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Cognitive Physiology Lab (Center for Creative and Applied Medicine)
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The lab explores how the brain works, from memory to cognitive control.
AboutAbout the lab
From memory research to the cognitive control that gives rise to the mind.
The Cognitive Physiology Lab (Igarashi Lab) studies where in the brain information received from the outside world is converted into control of intention (cognitive control).
Focusing on a brain region called the lateral entorhinal cortex, the lab has studied how olfactory information is converted into memory information.
Going a step beyond its previous memory research, the lab aims to move on to research on cognitive control, which gives rise to the mind.
On the lab's website, it is introduced under the name "Igarashi Lab."
Key terms
- Cognitive control
- The function of controlling one's behavior by one's own will, based on information received from the outside world
- Lateral entorhinal cortex
- A brain region that converts olfactory information into memory information. It connects to many brain regions, including the piriform cortex and the hippocampus
- Prefrontal cortex
- A region regarded as the highest-order part of the brain. In this lab's research, it is said to work together with the lateral entorhinal cortex in assigning value to odor information
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
Little is known about where in the brain sensory information received from the outside world is converted all the way into control of intention (cognitive control). This lab investigates the mechanisms that generate cognitive control, starting from the activity of brain regions involved in memory and value assignment.
*Illustrative imageThe brain region that converts olfactory information into memory
The lab found that a brain region called the lateral entorhinal cortex converts olfactory information into memory information. It has also found that this conversion uses dopamine, and that the region works together with the prefrontal cortex to assign value to odor information.
*Illustrative imageA brain region that may be the starting point of cognitive control
Value information is essential for cognitive control. The lab's results suggest that the lateral entorhinal cortex may be the first brain region to generate cognitive control, and the finding that it connects to many brain regions and acts as a kind of command center supports this.
*Illustrative imageElucidating and reproducing the mechanism of cognitive control
The lab aims to clarify how the lateral entorhinal cortex, the prefrontal cortex, and the regions connected to them generate cognitive control. It is developing methods to replay the activity of individual neurons, and also aims to create cognitive control functions artificially.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty, project researchers, master's and undergraduate students, and a secretary.As of 2026
- Professor (International Eminent)Kei Igarashi
- Assistant ProfessorTatsuki Nakagawa
- Assistant ProfessorLi Yuan
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: “Brain Anatomy Model ( )” YVC Biology Department / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- The brain region that converts olfactory information into memory: “Mouse olfactory bulb @ 10x ( )” Jason Snyder from Washington, DC, United States / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- A brain region that may be the starting point of cognitive control: “Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - Reduced brain volume on the left side from ADHD” https://www.scientificanimations.com/ / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Elucidating and reproducing the mechanism of cognitive control: “Cortical Neurons, stained” Ns takes photos / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Medical Biochemistry Lab): “Biochemistry laboratory MPI-CBG-panorama” Masur / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Neuropharmacology Lab (Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences)): “Siarhei Besarab during a laboratory microbiology session at the Faculty of Chemistry Belarusian State University 2008” Henadz Besarab / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Super-network Brain Physiology Lab (Graduate School of Life Sciences)): “Patch rig” Peter Duncan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Human Brain Science Lab (Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer)): “MRI Brain Septum Deviation” Cathzey / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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