Research by Makibuchi, Professor Yamashiro, and Colleagues Published in the European Journal of Neuroscience
Left: Makibuchi (doctoral student). Right: Professor Koya Yamashiro (supervisor).
Makibuchi, a third-year doctoral student in our laboratory, Professor Koya Yamashiro, and colleagues investigated how the brain processes sensory information when people respond to auditory or tactile cues. They found that the brain does not modulate its responses to sound and touch in the same way: the degree and characteristics of modulation differ by sensory modality.
In daily life and sport, we use many kinds of sensory information to guide movement. Track athletes begin running in response to an auditory starting signal, while players in ball sports may adjust their movements using tactile information from contact with an opponent. Our findings suggest that when movement and sensory information are combined, the brain may regulate auditory and tactile processing differently. Further investigation of these mechanisms could deepen our understanding of how people move appropriately in response to their surroundings and provide a foundation for using sensory information in sport and motor learning.
The findings were published in the international journal European Journal of Neuroscience (IF = 2.5) on September 1, 2026!