At the Chikazoe Laboratory, Affective Data Science Division, BMK Center, Hiroshima University, we investigate the integrative principles of sensation, emotion, and cognition through functional MRI studies focusing on the five senses.
By applying data science approaches, including pattern analysis and machine learning, to high-resolution functional brain images acquired with ultra-high-field (3T/7T) MRI, we aim to elucidate how emotion influences cognition, its underlying neural mechanisms, and ultimately to advance our understanding of the fundamental units of the mind.
Recruitment
Chikazoe Laboratory welcomes inquiries from international researchers interested in conducting collaborative research at Hiroshima University through JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships, JSPS Invitational Fellowships, or other visiting researcher arrangements. Prospective researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance to discuss their research interests and potential hosting arrangements.
We also welcome inquiries from prospective graduate students and individuals interested in research internships.
Open positions for project assistant professors, researchers, and other research staff will be announced on our Recruitment page as they become available.
About the Chikazoe Laboratory
The Affective Data Science Division is one of the divisions of the Brain, Mind and Kansei Sciences Research Center (BMK Center) at Hiroshima University.
Research in this division is led by Professor Junichi Chikazoe, who serves as the principal investigator and oversees the overall direction of the laboratory’s research activities.
Research Objectives
Emotion is a core system that rapidly links sensory inputs to immediate actions and decision-making.
At the Chikazoe Laboratory, we use functional MRI (fMRI) and data science approaches—including pattern analysis, machine learning, and multimodal integration—to elucidate the neural basis of the interaction between emotion and cognition. We also develop advanced analytical methods that leverage high-resolution data acquired with ultra-high-field (3T/7T) MRI, aiming to deepen our understanding of the fundamental units of the mind.
Research Overview
Our laboratory conducts a range of studies, including the development of artificial intelligence that models individual preferences through the integration of deep learning and functional MRI, the elucidation of the fundamental units of the mind through large-scale brain functional data analysis, and investigations into the neural basis of human taste perception.
Members
The laboratory is composed of researchers and graduate students, led by Professor Junichi Chikazoe and Assistant Professor Trung Quang Pham.