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Systems Neuropharmacology Lab
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A lab that explores, starting from the synapse, how memories are formed in the hippocampus of the brain.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling the mystery of memory, starting from the synapse.
The Systems Neuropharmacology Lab (Hayashi Lab) studies how memories are maintained in the brain.
It focuses in particular on the hippocampus, a brain region necessary for forming new memories.
In the hippocampus, long-term potentiation (LTP), in which synaptic transmission is strengthened for a long time by a brief stimulus, occurs, and this is considered a cellular-level model of memory.
By combining molecular biology, electrophysiology, animal behavior experiments, and imaging, the lab seeks to uncover the molecular mechanisms of LTP.
Key terms
- Long-term potentiation (LTP)
- A phenomenon in which signal transmission at the synapse is strengthened for a long time after a brief, strong stimulus. It is a cellular-level model of memory.
- Liquid-liquid phase separation
- A phenomenon in which a protein solution separates into dense and dilute parts, like water and oil.
- Dendritic spine
- A small thorn-like structure on the branches of a neuron. It is the site of the synapse that receives signals from other neurons.
ResearchResearch themes
The overall picture of how memories are formed in the hippocampus, stored in other brain regions, and recalled is still not understood. The lab studies how memories are written in the hippocampus using diverse methods, from molecules to animal behavior.
*Illustrative imageMovement of proteins to synapses and long-term potentiation
The lab showed that new AMPA-type glutamate receptors moving into synapses raises synaptic sensitivity. This movement occurs for many proteins.
*Illustrative imageLiquid-liquid phase separation and synaptic plasticity
The enzyme CaMKII, when activated, undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation and forms dense assemblies. The lab is investigating whether this property underlies the mechanism by which proteins move to and accumulate at synapses during long-term potentiation.
*Illustrative imageHow dendritic spines change shape
When synapses are active, dendritic spines enlarge and actin filaments increase. The lab found that CaMKII bundles actin filaments.
*Illustrative imageTracking the cells that carry memory
The hippocampus contains place cells, which become active when an animal is at a particular location. While mice move in a virtual reality environment, the lab records the activity of hippocampal cells with two-photon microscopy to study how cells that carry memory are formed and maintained.
MembersFaculty
The Systems Neuropharmacology Lab (Hayashi Lab) is made up of faculty and researchers, graduate students, and technical staff.
- ProfessorYasunori Hayashi
- Associate ProfessorTomohisa Hosokawa
- Program-Specific Associate ProfessorMisa Arizono
- Assistant ProfessorSteven Middleton
- Assistant ProfessorNozomi Asaoka
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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: “Place Cell Spiking Activity Example” Stuartlayton / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Movement of proteins to synapses and long-term potentiation: “AMPA receptor(cropped)” Curtis Neveu / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Liquid-liquid phase separation and synaptic plasticity: “Sinapsia” Itzulpena eta moldaketa User:Theklan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- How dendritic spines change shape: “Neuron figure fr” Dominique222 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Tracking the cells that carry memory: “Place cel remapping” Achaea / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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