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Masashi  Kawasaki
Degree(s): Ph.D
Graduate School: Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan
Primary Appointment: Professor of Biology
Research Interests:
Neuroethology of electric fish
Website: http://www.people.virginia.edu/~mk3u/mk_lab/index.htm
Email Address: mk3u@virginia.edu
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program(s)
  • Neuroscience
  • Structural, Computational Biology and Biophysics
  • Molecular Medicine

    • Research Description

    My research subjects are the weakly electric fishes - unusual electronic animal species that the nature has ever created. Specifically, I have focused on the brain mechanisms for electric behaviors of South American and African electric fishes. My research strategy is to combine behavioral experiments for identification of computational algorithms, and neurobiological techniques for identification of underlying neuronal mechanisms. The ultimate goal of my research is to uncover fundamental design principles of the brain using these attractive creatures.

    Selected Publications

  • Kawasaki, M. (2009) Evolution of time coding systems in weakly electric fishes. Zool. Sci. (in press).
  • Pluta, S. R. and Kawasaki, M. (2008). Multisensory enhancement of electromotor responses to a single moving object. J. Exp. Biol. 211: 2919-30.
  • Carlson, B.A. and Kawasaki, M. (2008) From stimulus estimation to combination sensitivity: Encoding and processing of amplitude and timing information in parallel, convergent sensory pathways. J. Comput. Neurosci. 25: 1-24.
  • Carlson, B.A. and Kawasaki, M. (2006) Stimulus selectivity is enhanced by voltage-dependent conductances in combination-sensitive neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 96:3362-337.
  • PubMed Listings for this Faculty Member

    • Intranet Profile

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    Contact Information
      Office Address: PO Box 400328, Gilmer Hall, 277, 
      Office Phone: +1 434-982-5763, +1 434-243-5494
      Fax Phone: +1 434-243-5494
      Home Phone: +1 434-978-1567
      Web Site: http:/

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