Nervous system plays pivotal roles in adaption of animals to environment through the homeostasitic regulations along with the endcrine system. We need to understand how our nervous syetem responses against chemical mediators in the stressful conditions since inappropriate adaptation to such responses may lead to psychiatric disorders. To solve this problem, we use animal models including mouse, zebrafish and newt as well as culture cells to study the alterations of stress-response genes and cellular responses.

In the study regarding the effect of inflammatory mediators, we will evaluate stress response of nervous system through the undrstanding of regulatory mechanism of neuronal excitability and input-output specificity. We will also establish screening methods to identify molecules regulating autophagy. As our unique approach, we will launch a new evaluation system to measure stress-response in small animals by utilizing robotics. Rodents will be given stress by small mobile robots, and their behavioral response will be monitored under stressful conditions. Through these integrated approaches we will develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for psychiatric and neurological dsiorders.