LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Hagiwara Lab
Machine-translated · View original
A lab that explores how the brain works and what causes brain diseases, using synapses as a clue.
AboutAbout the lab
Understanding the brain, starting from the synapse.
The Hagiwara Lab analyzes the morphology and physiological functions of neural networks, centered on synapses, to understand the many functions of the brain.
Synapses are the adhesive junctions connecting neurons, and are considered the basic units that support brain function.
Through this research, the lab aims to contribute to elucidating the causes of neuropsychiatric disorders and developing treatments for them.
The lab's research rests on three pillars: morphological analysis, development of novel optogenetic tools and their application to behavioral experiments, and observation by electron microscopy.
Key terms
- Synapse
- An adhesive junction connecting neurons. Considered the basic unit of information transmission that supports brain function.
- Optogenetics
- A method that uses light-control tools to analyze brain function, examining the function of neural circuits through the behavior of mice under light stimulation.
- Electron microscope
- A microscope required to observe the structure of synapses, which are extremely small, on the nanometer scale.
NewsLab news
A paper on CAST deficiency in the presynapse was accepted by Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin
A fourth-year undergraduate and a master's student won a poster award at the Parallel Brain public symposium
A student won an Excellent Poster Award at the 3rd Parallel Brain Symposium
ResearchResearch themes
The brain receives a wide variety of external stimuli, integrates that information, and outputs it as behavior. The lab focuses on the synapse, the basic unit of information transmission, and investigates the morphology and physiological functions of neural networks using morphological analysis, optogenetics, and electron microscopy.
*Illustrative imageMorphological analysis of neurons and synapses
Using various genetically modified mice, the lab observes brain structure and the localization of functional molecules with methods such as immunohistochemistry, and analyzes neurodegeneration and abnormalities in transmission mechanisms. The lab has also established methods for observing neural circuits in the hypothalamus and amygdala, and will apply them to behavioral analysis in mice.
*Illustrative imageDeveloping new optogenetic tools
For a new light-control tool developed in collaboration with the Otsuka Lab at the University of Yamanashi, the lab verifies its localization within cells through morphological analysis. The tool will also be applied to analyzing brain function, clarifying neural circuits and their functions through behavioral experiments on mice under light stimulation.
*Illustrative imageThe fine structure of synapses seen with electron microscopy
Synapses are extremely small structures on the nanometer scale, so electron microscopy is required to observe them. The lab analyzes neural circuits and synaptic structure using images obtained through collaborations with the Fukazawa Lab at the University of Fukui, the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, and the Advanced Imaging Research Center at Kurume University.
MembersFaculty
The Hagiwara Lab consists of faculty members and master's and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorAkari Hagiwara
VoicesStudent voices
Ratings and reviews reflect the experiences of individual current or former students, not the lab's official views. Whether a lab has reviews, or how many, says nothing about the lab itself.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
Student ratings (0 students)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Student voices answer questions like these
- What's great about this lab?
- What did you learn after joining?
- What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
- Who is this lab for?
- Where do graduates go?
Your experience can help younger students choose their lab. Your name won't be shown.
Write a lab reviewAnonymous · Your draft is saved if you stopRelatedLabs similar to Hagiwara Lab
Plant Molecular Physiology (Kuchitsu Lab)Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biological Science and TechnologyPlant molecular and physiological science
Nishihama LabFaculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biological Science and TechnologyPlant molecular and physiological scienceIchikawa LabFaculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biological Science and TechnologyExperimental psychology and physiological psychology (eye tr…
Applied Microbiology (Arazoe Lab)Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biological Science and TechnologyGenome biology, molecular biology, plant protection science,…The information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
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: “Synapse neuro-neuronale” Savant-fou / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Morphological analysis of neurons and synapses: “Layer V Pyramidal cell from mouse visual cortex” Quorumetrix / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Developing new optogenetic tools: “STAT Optogenetics MIT Handout” statenews website hayadan website / CC BY 2.5 (cropped)
- The fine structure of synapses seen with electron microscopy: “Scanning electron microscope - UFCH JH (2020) 01” Tadeáš Bednarz / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (植物分子生理学
（朽津 研究室） ): “Tomato Leaf Mold” Elizabeth Bush, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University / CC BY 3.0 (cropped) - Related lab (植物成長発生学
（西浜 研究室） ): “Marchantia polymorpha - Common Liverwort 01” Jasper Shide / CC0 (cropped) - Related lab (応用微生物学
（荒添研究室） ): “Fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe)” Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS) / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.