For Faculty Members
富岡 征大 （とみおか まさひろ）
TOMIOKA Masahiro
| Title | Assistant Professor |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry (UG), Department of Biological Sciences (GR), Graduate School of Science |
| |
| Room | 226, Faculty of Science Bldg.3, 2F |
| TEL | +81-3-5841-4404 | 24404（ext.） |
Research Field
Genetics, Neuroscience, Molecular biology
Research Subject
Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory
Current Research
To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying learning and memory, we have been using the nematode worm C. elegans as a model animal. The nervous system of C. elegans is composed of 302 neurons in adult hermaphrodite and those neurons are well characterized. We have reported molecular mechanisms, such as insulin signaling and alternative RNA splicing, which regulate neural circuit functions in taste avoidance learning, where worms learn to avoid salt concentrations encountered under starvation. We have been further elucidating the molecular mechanisms that generate and control neural circuit functions required for learning and memory.
Keywords
learning and memory, C. elegans, neural circuit, signaling pathway, RNA splicing