Systems Neuroscience

Laboratory of Functional Brain Circuit Construction

Yoshito Masamizu, Ph.D.

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The brain functions through neural networks. Our laboratory seeks techniques to construct novel brain's neural circuits. We established a system to produce a neuronal fiber with a double-coaxial laminar flow microfluidic device, and transplanted the fiber onto the brain of mice. In the future, we would like to use these techniques to recover or extend brain functions.

Regarding brain function recovery, transplanted neuronal fibers could bypass damaged brain areas. These techniques enabling novel brain's neural circuits would also illuminate the brain's information-processing mechanisms through a constructive approach. We plan to reveal neural activity during brain functions' recovery or extension using in vivo calcium imaging.

Research topics

1. Development of techniques to produce a neuronal fiber
2. Development of techniques to construct novel brain's neural circuits
3. Recovery of brain functions with novel neural circuits
4. Extension of brain functions with novel neural circuits

Selected publications

1. Ebina T#, Masamizu Y#, Tanaka YR, Watakabe A, Hirakawa R, Hirayama Y, Hira R,　Terada S, Koketsu D, Hikosaka K, Mizukami H, Nambu A, Sasaki E, Yamamori T,　Matsuzaki M. (# Co-first authors) Two-photon imaging of neuronal activity in motor cortex of marmosets during upper-limb movement tasks. Nature Communications, 2018; 9(1879): 1-16.
2. Sadakane O#, Masamizu Y#, Watakabe A#, Terada S#, Ohtsuka M, Takaji M, Mizukami H, Ozawa K, Kawasaki H, Matsuzaki M, Yamamori T. (# Co-first authors) Long-term two-photon calcium imaging of neuronal populations with subcellular resolution in adult non-human primates. Cell Reports, 2015;13(9):1989-99.
3. Masamizu Y#, Tanaka YR#, Tanaka YH, Hira R, Ohkubo F, Kitamura K, Isomura Y, Okada T, Matsuzaki M. (# Co-first authors) Two distinct layer-specific dynamics of cortical ensembles during learning of a motor task. Nature Neuroscience, 2014;17(7):987-94.
4. Masamizu Y, Okada T, Kawasaki K, Ishibashi H, Yuasa S, Takeda S, Hasegawa I, Nakahara K. Local and retrograde gene transfer into primate neuronal pathways via adeno-associated virus serotype 8 and 9. Neuroscience, 2011; 193(13):249-258.
5. Masamizu Y, Okada T, Ishibashi H, Takeda S, Yuasa S, Nakahara K. Efficient gene transfer into neurons in monkey brain by adeno-associated virus 8. NeuroReport, 2010; 21(6): 447-451.
6. Masamizu Y, Ohtsuka T, Takashima Y, Nagahara H, Takenaka Y, Yoshikawa K, Okamura H, Kageyama R. Real-time imaging of the somite segmentation clock: revelation of unstable oscillators in the individual presomitic mesoderm cells. PNAS (TrackⅡ), 2006; 103(5): 1313-1318.

Members

Yoshito Masamizu, Ph.D. (Principal investigator, Professor)
Kaneyasu Nishimura, Ph.D. (Research associate professor)
Hironobu Osaki, M.D., Ph.D. (Research associate professor)

Links

Masamizu Lab

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