Molecular Neuroscience Systems, Laboratory Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University | Japan
Masaya Yamamoto is a molecular neuroscientist whose research centers on understanding how astrocytes regulate learning, memory, and cognitive resilience. His work spans astrocyte biology, synaptic plasticity, neurodegeneration, and spatiotemporal proteomics, integrating advanced in vivo imaging and molecular approaches to uncover the dynamic roles of glial cells in brain function. He has contributed to four research projects, including one completed investigation on vascular dementia mechanisms and three ongoing studies exploring astrocyte-mediated modulation of neural circuits. His publications in Neurotherapeutics and Cells highlight innovative perspectives on glia–neuron interactions. In his influential review in Cells, he synthesized emerging concepts such as nanoscale calcium microdomains, multisynaptic leaflet signaling, and ensemble-level astrocyte activity, offering a unified framework for how astrocytes actively shape memory processes. His work emphasizes the transition from viewing astrocytes as passive support cells to recognizing them as key computational elements in cognitive regulation. Through proteomic mapping, functional imaging, and mechanistic analysis, Yamamoto’s research advances current understanding of glial contributions to neuroplasticity and their implications for neurodegenerative disorders. His contributions continue to refine theoretical and experimental paradigms in molecular neuroscience, particularly in the context of synaptic modulation and glial pathology.
Profile: ORCID
Featured Publications
Yamamoto, M., & Takano, T. (2025). Astrocyte-mediated plasticity: Multi-scale mechanisms linking synaptic dynamics to learning and memory. Cells, 14(24), Article 1936.
Yamamoto, M., Itokazu, T., Uno, H., Maki, T., Shibuya, N., & Yamashita, T. (2025). Anti-RGMa neutralizing antibody ameliorates vascular cognitive impairment in mice. Neurotherapeutics.