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Takahashi-Shiramatsu Lab (Biological Intelligence Systems Lab)
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A lab that aims to understand the brain as a machine and to build brain-like information processing systems.
AboutAbout the lab
Studying the brain from an engineering perspective
The Takahashi-Shiramatsu Lab (Biological Intelligence Systems Lab) aims to understand the brain as a mechanical system and to build next-generation, brain-like information processing systems.
The lab measures and analyzes patterns of neural activity spread across time and space to clarify how the brain represents information.
Its research covers neural circuits of many scales, from cultured neurons to the brains of rats and humans.
The research is carried out mainly by students trained in mechanical engineering, who approach the brain from the perspective of "reverse engineering" it.
Key terms
- Neural circuit
- A network formed by many neurons that are connected to one another and exchange electrical signals
- Electrode array
- A device that lines up many small electrodes to measure electrical signals at many locations at the same time
- Brain-machine interface
- Technology that reads signals from the brain to operate machines, or sends information from machines to the brain
- in vitro / in vivo
- In vitro means studying something outside the body, such as in a petri dish; in vivo means studying it inside a living body
NewsLab news
Paper published on testing avatar therapy for tinnitus with an AR app
Review article published on how the brain responds when a predicted stimulus does not occur
Open Lab (lab visit) held at the graduate school admissions information session
Lab opened to visitors at the Open Campus for families
Paper published on the role of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens in response to unexpected sounds
ResearchResearch themes
The lab integrates informatics, engineering, and neuroscience to study neural circuits at many scales, from cultured neurons to functional brain imaging in humans. Its work includes developing original electrode arrays and experimental equipment, analyzing data with machine learning, building mathematical models of the brain, and developing brain-machine interfaces.
*Illustrative imageCultured neural circuits (in vitro)
Using high-density electrode arrays, the lab observes how neurons grown in a petri dish form circuits on their own and change in response to stimulation. Based on these data, it aims to develop computers capable of brain-like computation.
*Illustrative imageThe rat auditory brain (in vivo)
Focusing on the auditory regions of the rat brain, the lab develops techniques to read out information from neural activity recorded with electrode arrays. It investigates how perception, emotion, and preference are represented in the brain, and has also found that rats respond to music.
*Illustrative imageThe human brain (human)
Using EEG and MRI, the lab develops brain-machine interfaces and conducts cognitive science research. In collaboration with the Department of Neurosurgery at Jichi Medical University, it also studies methods for diagnosing and treating epileptic seizures.
MembersFaculty
The Takahashi-Shiramatsu Lab consists of faculty members, technical specialists, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, research students, visiting researchers, technical assistants, and a secretary.As of 2026
- ProfessorHirokazu TakahashiPublications ↗
- Associate ProfessorTomoyo ShiramatsuPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorDai Akita
- Project Assistant ProfessorAmit Yaron
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Axons Al Dente” MikeRoscopy / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Cultured neural circuits (in vitro): “Stretchable Microelectrode Array (sMEA) with PDMS glue” Kwayyy / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- The rat auditory brain (in vivo): “Wistar rat” Janet Stephens (photographer) / Public domain (cropped)
- The human brain (human): “35s SWK REM” _moep_ / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (ISI Lab): “Icub full body” Jll at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Harada-Kurose-Mukuta Lab (Machine Intelligence Lab/MIL)): “Ouster OS1-64 lidar point cloud of intersection of Folsom and Dore St, San Francisco” Daniel L. Lu / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Takeuchi-Nie Lab): “Lab on a Chip ( )” National Institute of Standards and Technology / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (JSK Lab (Information Systems Engineering Lab / Jouhou System Kougaku Laboratory) (Okada Lab)): “Ars Electronica 2008 Kotaro” Manfred Werner - Tsui / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
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