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Systems Neuropharmacology Lab
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The lab approaches psychiatric disorders through the brain mechanisms that govern emotion.
AboutAbout the lab
Taking on the neural mechanisms of the mind to overcome psychiatric disorders.
The Systems Neuropharmacology Lab conducts research aimed at elucidating the complex neural mechanisms that govern emotional behavior and contributing to progress in psychiatric disorder research, which has reached an impasse.
The lab studies brain function by combining cutting-edge technologies such as whole-brain imaging, calcium imaging, and optogenetic and chemogenetic methods.
The lab places importance on respecting the autonomy of students and young researchers, so that they can enjoy their research.
On the lab's website, it is presented under the name "Kasai Lab."
Key terms
- Claustrum
- A brain region. This lab has shown it to be a central region of the neural circuits that produce stress-induced anxiety responses.
- Calcium imaging
- A method of capturing, as images, the changes in calcium that accompany neuronal activity. This lab also performs it in the claustrum of freely moving mice.
- Immediate early genes
- Genes considered to be indicators of neural activity. This lab uses fos and Arc reporter mice.
- Autism spectrum disorder
- A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
NewsLab news
Review article published in Biol. Pharm. Bull.
A doctoral student received the Young Investigator Development Dojo Excellent Presentation Award at NEURO2026
Paper from a joint study with RIKEN published in Plant & Cell Physiology
A JSPS Research Fellow received the Annual Meeting Excellent Presentation Award at the 99th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society
Paper from a joint study with Kyoto University published in J Neuropathol Exp Neurol
ResearchResearch themes
The Systems Neuropharmacology Lab aims to clarify the neural mechanisms underlying unpleasant feelings (negative emotions) and to understand how they go awry in psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders. It takes an interdisciplinary approach that combines whole-brain imaging, calcium imaging, optogenetic and chemogenetic methods, pharmacological methods, and more.
*Illustrative imageThe claustrum, which controls the stress response
The lab has shown that the claustrum is a central region of the neural circuits that produce stress-induced anxiety responses, and aims to understand its involvement in stress-induced insomnia and panic disorder. It also focuses on functions related to vigilance and to information processing that does not reach consciousness.
*Illustrative imageThe science of jealousy (understanding inequity aversion)
Using its own behavioral assessment system for rodents together with cutting-edge imaging technologies, the lab investigates the mechanisms of social emotions such as the sense of unfairness and jealousy, and aims to elucidate the neural mechanisms that give rise to the sense of unfairness.
*Illustrative imageResearch on neurodevelopmental disorders
In mouse models of autism spectrum disorder, the lab performs fate mapping that labels only neurons that differentiated at a specific time. It aims to clarify where in the brain and what kinds of molecular-level changes are occurring.
*Illustrative imageWhole-brain activity mapping
The lab developed a high-resolution, high-speed whole-brain imaging system (FAST) and visualized the whole brain at the cellular level. Using immediate early gene reporter mice, it exploratorily analyzes changes in brain activity caused by external stimuli such as drug responses.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Systems Neuropharmacology Lab consist of faculty members, JSPS Research Fellows (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science), doctoral and undergraduate students, and technical assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorAtsushi Kasai
- Assistant ProfessorZhiwen Zhou
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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: “Axio Imager with Colibri.2 LED Lightsource for Fluorescence Illumination ( )” ZEISS Microscopy from Germany / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- The claustrum, which controls the stress response: “Brain-ventricle-anatomy-diagram” Case courtesy of Dr Matt Skalski, <a href="https://radiopaedia.org/">Radiopaedia.org</a>. From the case <a href="https://radiopaedia.org/cases/37808">rID: 37808</a> / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- The science of jealousy (understanding inequity aversion): “Scales of Justice ( )” frankieleon / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Research on neurodevelopmental disorders: “Neuron (100x magnification)” Ns takes photos / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Whole-brain activity mapping: “Principle of Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM)” ZEISS Microscopy / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (神経系分野): “Close-up of a lab technitian adjusting a microscope glass slide” Shixart1985 / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (分子代謝医学分野): “Pipette de laboratoire sur fond blanc au Bénin 02” Adoscam / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (病態神経科学分野): “Shaking incubator for culture tubes” real name: Matylda Sęk pl.wiki: Cygaretka commons: Cygaretka / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (若手研
究者インキュベートセクション): “Microscope à fluorescence (Ifremer )” Olivier Dugornay / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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