Genichi Tasaka Genichi Tasaka

Senior Research Fellow, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN *Profile is at the time of the award.

2026HagukumuBiology & Life sciences(hagukumu)

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Research topics: Unraveling Dopamine Dysregulation in Maternal Behavioral Deficits

Keyword

Summary: Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 10–15% of new mothers, disrupting mother–infant bonding and representing a significant public health concern. Despite this prevalence, the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to clarify the circuit basis of PPD by focusing on the dopaminergic system and its role in maternal behavior. In particular, I will identify neural circuits whose dysfunction contributes to deficits in caregiving and examine how these alterations causally impact behavior.

Message

I am sincerely grateful for this grant support. Building on this opportunity, I will focus on elucidating the neural circuit mechanisms underlying postpartum depression and further deepen our understanding of the neural basis of maternal caregiving behavior.