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Pharmacology Lab
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The neuropharmacology lab explores how the brain generates pleasant and unpleasant emotions.
AboutAbout the lab
Tackling disorders of the “mind” through the brain's mechanisms
The Pharmacology Lab studies how emotions such as pleasure and displeasure arise in the brain.
Using methods such as behavioral pharmacology, electrophysiology, optogenetics, and optical imaging, the lab investigates neural activity involved in emotion.
It aims to clarify the mechanisms of psychiatric disorders caused by abnormal emotion and to lead to the creation of therapeutic drugs.
Through seminars and study groups, the lab lets students learn neuroscience from the basics.
Key terms
- Optogenetics
- A method of introducing light-responsive proteins into neurons and shining light on them to control the activity of specific neurons
- Amygdala
- A small region deep in the brain that is deeply involved in emotions such as anxiety and fear
- Dopamine
- One of the substances that transmit information between neurons in the brain. It is involved in reward and motivation
NewsLab news
Study showing how dopamine controls aversion avoidance and reward acquisition published in Communications Biology
A student received the Excellent Presentation Award at the 153rd Meeting of the Hokkaido Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
A student received the Excellent Presentation Award at the 76th Northern Regional Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society
A student received the Junior Researcher Poster Award at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society
A student received the Excellent Presentation Award at the 152nd Meeting of the Hokkaido Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
ResearchResearch themes
While also focusing on how neurons and glial cells in the brain work together, the lab studies the mechanisms of psychiatric disorders and emotional disorders. Using experimental techniques such as behavioral pharmacology and electrophysiology, it aims to lead to the creation of therapeutic drugs.
*Illustrative imageNeural mechanisms of pleasant and unpleasant emotions
The lab investigates at the molecular level the neural mechanisms that generate pleasant and unpleasant emotions, which underlie the motivation of behavior. It also studies unpleasant emotions such as anxiety and aversion caused by pain, and the role of the extended amygdala.
*Illustrative imageNeural mechanisms of social behavior
The lab investigates the activity of neural circuits involved in parenting, sexual behavior, and social hierarchy. It also examines how hormones and neurotransmitters alter neural activity and social behavior.
*Illustrative imageNeural mechanisms of learning and decision-making
The lab investigates how the brain resolves the conflict between pursuing rewards and avoiding fear or aversion. Centered on the dopamine system, it uses mice to clarify the neural basis.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Pharmacology Lab consist of faculty, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and administrative staff.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasabumi Minami
- Associate Professor天野 大樹
- Associate Professor木村 生
- Assistant ProfessorChiaki Katagiri
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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: “Lab mouse mg 3135” Rama / CC BY-SA 2.0 fr (cropped)
- Neural mechanisms of pleasant and unpleasant emotions: “Amygdala frontal slice” Daniel Sabinasz / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Neural mechanisms of social behavior: “ChimericMouseWithPups” Staff at NIMH's Transgenic Core Facility / Public domain (cropped)
- Neural mechanisms of learning and decision-making: “Dopamine Pathway” BruceBlaus / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (臨床薬剤学研究室): “Robot de distribution” Sandra Culand / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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（浦口研究室） ): “Working in the Process Chemistry Lab ( )” National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences from Bethesda, MD / Public domain (cropped) - Related lab (衛生化学研究室): “Ileum biopsy with lymphoid tissue, intermed. mag” CoRus13 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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