In this study, resting-state electroencephalograms were taken in patients with depressive disorders. The high beta band power predicted quality of life 3 years later in the patients. The high beta band power may be a useful biomarker for depressive disorders.

Striatal neurons exhibit spontaneous slow Ca2+ oscillations due to Ca2+ release from the Ca2+-store. We show that store-operated calcium channels (SOCCs) exert a functional role and are involved in the slow Ca2+ oscillations in striatal GABAergic neurons. The present results indicate that SOCCs contribute to Ca2+ signaling in striatal GABAergic neurons.

We created prodromal Parkinson’s disease (PD) mice model exhibiting hyposmia and REM sleep behavior disorders (RBD) as well as α-synuclein deposition and mild dopaminergic cell loss. This mice model can contribute to the development of disease-modifying therapies and preventive treatments in the prodromal stage of PD.

Mega-analyses indicated similar white matter microstructural abnormalities between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the limbic system, while autism spectrum disorder also shared abnormalities in the corpus callosum. Major depression showed a relative lack of white matter microstructural defects. Schizophrenia was unique in having defects in discrete neocortical tracks. This study was published in 『Molecular Psychiatry』

To elucidate brain regions associated with neuropathic pain, we conducted an activity mapping of a mouse model of neuropathic pain using quantitative activation-induced manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (qAIM-MRI). qAIM-MRI revealed increased neural activity in the limbic system and sensory-motor, piriform, and insular cortex. This is the first study to demonstrate whole-brain activity mapping in a neuropathic pain model.