DEPARTMENT OF INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY

Outline

Department of Integrative Physiology has two Laboratories, Laboratory of Sensori-Motor Integration (Chair: Ryusuke Kakigi) and Laboratory of System Neurophysiology (Chair: Atsushi Nambu). Although there are many departments named Integrative Physiology in Japan at present, Department of Integrative Physiology at NIPS was founded as the first one in Japan. Laboratory of Sensori-Motor Integration is investigating human brain functions using various methods of neuroimaging such as electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Laboratory of System Neurophysiology is investigating brain functions in animals, mainly monkey. In particular, they focus on the function of basal ganglia and cerebral cortex and their connection, and aim at clarifying pathophysiology and finding therapeutic methods of various diseases in humans by animal studies.

We investigate human brain functions non-invasively mainly using magnetoencephalography(MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG), but recently we have also used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Integrative studies using various methods are necessary to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The following investigations are in progress at present.

(1) Sensory system: By recording brain responses to visual, auditory, somatosensory or pain stimuli, the organization of sensory processing in the human brain is being investigated. In particular, our interest is focused on the underlying mechanisms of two-point discrimination, interaction and correlation between somatosensory and motor function, pain perception and visual motion perception.

(2) Even-related brain responses: Using various psychophysical tasks or paradigms, we are investigating cognitive processing of the brain (higher brain functions). In particular, our interest is focused on the underlying mechanisms of face perception, inhibition processing using Go-NoGo paradigm, and masking phenomenon using repetitive stimuli.

(3) Application of brain research to education and society: Recently we focused on the development of brain function in infants and children. EEG and NIRS are useful in this study, since these methods can be applied to infants and children who can not hold their heads still for a long time.

306-channel helmet-shaped MEG recording system (ELEKTA-Neuromag, Finland)

Cortical processing of sensory information traced by MEG.
Cortical activations induced by tactile, auditory, visual and noxious stimuli. In all the sensory modalities, several cortical areas are activated serially with a time delay of 4-5 ms, which is consistent with a hierarchical processing of sensory information.

Staff

	Professor: KAKIGI, Ryusuke, MD, PhD 1978 Graduated from Kyusyu University, Faculty of Medicine. 1981 Clinical Associate, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga Medical School. 1983-1985 Research Fellow, The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, University of London. 1992 Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine Saga Medical School. 1993 Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology
	Associate Professor: KANEOKE, Yoshiki, MD, PhD 1984 Graduated from Nagoya University, Faculty of Medicine. 1992 Completed the doctoral course in Neurology, Nagoya University, 1992-1995 Research Fellow & Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Emory University, U.S.A. 1995 Associate Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neurology, Neurophysiology
	Assistant Professor: INUI, Koji, MD, PhD 1989 Graduated from Saga Medical School, Faculty of Medicine. 1994 Completed the doctoral course in Psychiatry, Mie University. 1994 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Mie Univertsity. 2000 Research fellow, 2001 Assistant Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology, Psychiatry
	Assistant Professor: MIKI, Kensaku, MD, PhD 2000 Graduated form Hamamatsu university school of medicine, 2004 Completed doctoral course in Life Science, the Graduate University of Advanced Studies. 2004 JSPS Research Fellow. 2008 Assistant Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology
	Assistant Professor: MORITA, Tomoyo, PhD 1994-1998 Faculty of Human Studies, Kyoto University, 2003 Completed the doctoral course in Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University. 2003. 2003 JSPS Research Fellow. 2006 JST Research Fellow. 2009 Assistant Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Cognitive Neuroscience
	JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow: KIDA, Tetsuo, PhD 2000 Graduated from School of Health and Physical Education, University of Tsukuba, 2004 Completed the doctoral course in Health and Sports Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 2005 Research Fellow, NIPS. Speciality: Exercise Physiology, Neurophysiology
	Research Fellow: HASHIMOTO, Akiko , PhD 1975 Graduated from University of Rikkyo. 1998 Completed the master course in Behavioral Sciences, University of Shinshu. 2004 Completed the doctoral course in Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine. Speciality: Social preventive medicine, Cognitive psychology, Clinical psychology
	Research Fellow: HONDA, Yukiko, PhD 2002 Graduated from Aichi Syukutoku University, Faculty of Literature. 2004 Completed the master course in Psychology, Aichi Syukutoku University. 2007 Completed the doctoral course in Life Science, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies. Speciality: Neurophysiology, Developmental Psychology
	JST Postdoctoral Fellow: TANAKA, Emi, PhD 2002 Graduated from Faculty of Letters, Nara Woman University. 2004 Completed the Master's Course in Human Behavioral Science, Nara Woman University. 2007 Completed the Doctoral Course in Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies. 2007 JST Research Fellow. Speciality: Visual Neuroscience, Human behavioral science
	Postdoctoral Fellow: NAKATO, Emi, PhD 1997 Graduated from Komazawa University, Department of Psychology. 2004 Completed the doctoral course in Psychology, Komazawa University. 2008 Research fellow, Research and Development Initiative, Chuo University. 2009 Postdoctoral Fellow, NIPS.
	Postdoctoral Fellow: MATSUYOSHI, Daisuke, PhD 2003 Graduated from Faculty of Sociology, Kansai University. 2006, Completed Master's Course in Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University. 2009 Completed the Doctoral Course in Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, 2009 Postdoctoral Fellow NIPS. Speciality: Psychophysics, Cognitive Neuroscience

Living animals, including human beings, obtain many pieces of information from the external and internal environments, integrate them to make a decision for appropriate behavioral activity, and finally take action based on self-intension. The brainareas, such as the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and cerebellum, play a major role in the voluntary movements. On the other hand, malfunctions of these structures result in movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. The major goal of our research programs is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying higher motor functions and the pathophysiology of movement disorders. To explore such intricate brain functions, we employ a wide range of neurophysiological and neuroanatomical techniques.

Schematic model explaining functions of the basal ganglia and pathophysiology of movement disorders. The hyperdirect, direct and indirect pathways control the activity of the thalamus (Th), and relaease only the selected motor program at the appropriate timing (left). In hypokinetic disorders such as Parkinson's disease (center), reduced disinhibition in the thalamus through the direct pathway results in akinesia. On the other hand, reduced activity in the GPi/SNr induces excessive disinhibition on the thalamus and results in involuntary movements in hyperkinetic disorders such as dystonia (right).

Wriggle Mouse Sagami, one of the models of movement disorders.

Staff

	Professor: NAMBU, Atsushi, MD, PhD 1982 Graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Medicine. 1985 Research Associate, Kyoto University, School of Medicine. 1989 Postdoctoral Fellow, New York University, Faculty of Medicine. 1991 Associate Professor, NIPS. 1995 Director, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience. 2002 Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology
	Assistant Professor: HATANAKA, Nobuhiko, DDS, PhD 1996 Graduated from Ohu University, Faculty of Dentistry. 1996 Resident at Ohu University Hospital. 1997 Research Associate, Ohu University, Faculty of Dentistry. 1998 Research Fellow, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience. 2003 Assistant Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology, Neuroanatomy
	Assistant Professor: TACHIBANA, Yoshihisa, DDS, PhD 1999 Graduated from Osaka University, Faculty of Dentistry. 2003 Completed the doctoral course in Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Osaka University. 2003 Research Fellow, NIPS. 2003 Assistant Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology
	Assistant Professor: CHIKEN, Satomi, PhD 1994 Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan University, Department of Biological Sciences. 1999 Completed the doctoral course in Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Tokyo Metropolitan University. 2000 Research Fellow, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience. 2002 Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. 2006 Assistant Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology, Neurobiology
	Assistant Professor: SANO, Hiromi, PhD 1997 Graduated from Kyoto Pharmaceutical University. 1999 Completed the master course in Graduate School of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology. 2003 Completed the doctoral course in Graduate School of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology. 2003 Research Associate, Fukushima Medical University. 2004 Research Associate, Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine. 2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, NIPS. 2008 Assistant Professor, NIPS. Speciality: Molecular neurobiology
	Postdoctoral Fellow: TAKARA, Sayuki, PhD 2003 Graduated from Kyushu Institute of Technology. 2005 Graduated from the master course in Department of Brain Science and Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology. 2008 Completed the doctoral course in Life Science, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies. 2008 Postdoctral Fellow, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology
	Postdoctoral Fellow: IWAMURO, Hirokazu, MD, PhD 2000 Graduated from University of Tokyo, Faculty of Medicine. 2000 Resident at University of Tokyo Hospital. 2002 Clinical assistant at Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital. 2009 Completed the doctoral course in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo. 2009 Postdoctoral Fellow, NIPS. Speciality: Neurophysiology, Neurosurgery