We are proud to announce that Dr. Shimpei Ishiyama has been awarded the Young Investigator Award by the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS). This highly competitive award honors outstanding overall research achievements and promising future directions — a testament to the significance of Ishiyama’s work. Dr. Ishiyama is Group Leader at the Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry led by Prof. Dr. Valery Grinevich.
Neural Basis of Positive Emotions
As head of the Research Group for Neurobiology of Positive Emotions at the Central Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Ishiyama explores a fascinating and underrepresented topic in neuroscience: the neural basis of positive emotional states such as laughter, play, and joy. While much of neuroscience traditionally focuses on negative emotions like fear or pain, his work offers a shift in perspective — toward what makes life feel good.
“Understanding how the brain creates joy is not just a scientific curiosity — it’s essential for a more complete view of mental health,” says Dr. Ishiyama. “Positive emotions are not the opposite of dysfunction, but fundamental aspects of our emotional lives.”
Introducing “Neurogelotology”
At the heart of his research is gargalesis — the laughter-inducing form of ticklishness. Using behavioral, physiological, and electrophysiological methods in both rodents and humans, Dr. Ishiyama is laying the foundation for a new conceptual field: Neurogelotology, the neuroscience of laughter and fun. This innovative framework seeks to understand joy as a core brain function, rather than merely a byproduct of cognition.
A New Dimension in Psychiatry
Though lighthearted on the surface, this line of research holds deep clinical relevance. By investigating how the brain generates positive affect, Dr. Ishiyama’s work complements psychiatry’s traditional focus on dysfunction and opens new avenues for promoting emotional well-being and mental health.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Shimpei Ishiyama on this international recognition. His work exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking research that continues to shape the future of neuroscience and psychiatry.
For more information on the award, please visit the Japan Neuroscience Society website.
Publication:
Shimpei Ishiyama: The neurobiology of ticklishness. Neuroscience Research. 2025, 104907. ISSN 0168-0102, DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.neures.2025.05.002.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168010225000847