Dr. Seki received his Ph.D. in the department of basic medical sciences of Tsukuba University in 1998. He spent four years in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and Washington National Primate center, Seattle,WA, USA as a HFSP long-term fellow (supervisor: Prof. Eberhard E.Fetz). From 2002 he worked at the department of developmental physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan as an assistant professor (Head: Prof. Tadashi ISA). Then, he has been moved to the Department of Neurophysiology of NCNP as a director of department in October 2009. He is also a JST (PREST) researcher (http://www.jst.go.jp/kisoken/presto/en/index.html) from 2008 to 2015.

Fields of specialization: Neurophysiology/ Systems Neuroscience

Motor command in the cortex execute and control voluntary movement by generating, timely, coordinated activity of multiple muscles through a number of cortical and subcortical circuit in the central nervous system (CNS). Then, executed voluntary movements stimulate sensory receptor and generate sensory signal that integrated into the motor command, not only produce the movement perception. My research interest is on the neural mechanism for selecting and regulating muscle(s) and its activity that is appropriate for control the intended movement in precise manner. Specifically, we are currently investigating how the multiple premotor systems in the CNS accomplishes this task in a cellular resolution. We are also interested in the mechanism how the sensory activity induced by voluntary movement are extracted/attenuated in the process to integrate them into motor command. Specifically, we are currently investigating the neural mechanism of information selection at the first sensory relay (e.g. Spinal cord or brainstem) and its behavioral relevance and relative contribution between reafference and descending command for generating muscle activity during voluntary movement. We have also started to explore the mechanism supporting plasticity of these sensorimotor systems. Long-term perturbation to this system is known to activate surrounding system to restore appropriate movement. We are establishing an experimental design and animal model that could be applicable to study neural plasticity after the purtubation. We are aiming to extent these research to the clinically relevant findings. By establishing the primate model human disease exhibiting movement disorder, we will be able to study the contribution of sensorimotor system as described for understanding these disease. For this purpose, we are developing a primate model of Stroke and neurodegenerative disease like Dominant Spinocerebellar Ataxias (SCA).

大学院（筑波大学）を卒業後、シアトル（ワシントン大学）で3年間・岡崎（生理学研究所）で8年間過ごし、2009年より精神・神経医療研究センターでラボを立ち上げる事になりました。シアトルではEberhard Fetz教授のラボのポスドクとして多くの友人に恵まれ、彼らと一緒に研究だけでなくPacific Northwest特有の大自然を謳歌いたしました。岡崎では伊佐正教授のラボの助手（のち助教）として、脊髄慢性記録系の立ち上げに専念する一方、生理研での多くの研究会・セミナーなどを通じて多くの方々の影響を受けました。今後は研究活動内外を通じて、一人でも多くの方によい影響を与えられるようなラボを目指してゆきたいと思います。みなさんよろしくお願いいたします。