Kitamura Lab

  • Neural Circuit Genetics and Physiology for Learning and Memory

  • Neural Circuit Mechanisms for Remote Memory Formation

  • Neural Representation and Memory for Time and Space in Entorhinal-Cortical Hippocampal Networks

  • Neurobiological Mechanisms for dysfunction of Entorhinal-Cortical Hippocampal Networks in Alzheimer's Disease

Research

How do we remember episodic memory?

Memory of our lives’ experiences is central to our decision-making process, and severe disruption in memory is a debilitating part of aging and multiple diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Lesion and pharmacological studies confirmed the role of the hippocampus in memory formation in rodent models. Subsequent genetic experiments in mice have supported the molecular mechanisms behind the hippocampus’ role in memory, as well as the specific roles of the various hippocampal circuits in memory formation, consolidation and retrieval. From these studies, we learn the entorhinal cortex–hippocampal (EC-HPC) network plays an essential role in episodic memory. Episodic memory consists of associations of objects, space, individual and time. To understand the neural circuit mechanisms of episodic memory, we need to understand how spatial, object, individual or time information are encoded in the neuronal circuits. However, identification of the components of episodic memory at circuits’ level remains unknown. The primary goal of our team is the mapping of specific neuronal populations that encode unique physiological properties in episodic memory in EC-HPC networks and further examine how EC-HPC interacts with the upstream and down stream brain structures for memory processing.

News

2024 Feb- Naoki’s manuscript has been published in Molecular Brain

2024 Jan- Jun’s manuscript has been published in Neuron

2023 July- Joe’s manuscript has been published in Nature Communications

2023 May- Hisa’s manuscript has been published in Cell Reports Methods

2022 July- Takashi received the distinguished Investigator award of Japanese Society for Neurochemistry

2022 April- Joe’s manuscript has been published in Neuron

2022 May- Lab website open

2017 May- Kitamura lab open

Job Openings

We are currently recruiting postdocs! To apply, please email a statement of interests (describing why you are interested in the position, how it would help your career and what you bring into the team), a detailed CV and a list of three references directly to Dr. Kitamura. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.

Postdoctoral researchers joining my lab should be prepared to explore novel ideas with creativity and innovation. Together, we will develop an original research program with the potential to make a significant impact in the scientific community. Postdocs should aim to become thought leaders in their field, actively participating in conferences, lectures, workshops, and peer review to engage deeply with the broader scientific community.

https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/research/postdoctoral-scholars/assets/neural-circuits-genetics-physiology-kitamura.pdf

Lab Members

Faculty

Takashi Kitamura, Ph.D. Associate Professor Google scholar Faculty Profile

Sachie Ogawa, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Google scholar Faculty Profile

Hisayuki Osanai, Ph.D. Assistant Instructor Google scholar Faculty Profile (2018-current)

Postdoc

Ambrosia Simmons, M.D. Ph.D. Google scholar (2021-current)

Indrajith Nair, Ph.D. Google scholar (2023-current)

Graduate Student

Kritika Ramesh, Bs. Google scholar (2022-current), University of Texas at Dallas

UTSW Collaborator

Mark Henkemeyer, Ph.D. Professor Faculty Profile Henkemeyer Lab website

Carol Tamminga, M.D. Professor Faculty Profile Tamminga Lab website

Jun Yamamoto, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Faculty Profile Yamamoto Lab website

Alumni

Mary Arai, Ph.D. (2023-2024, completed Japan-U.S. Brain Research Cooperative Program)

Yoshiyuki Omura, M.D. Ph.D. (2018-2024), Research Associate at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA

Naoki Yamamoto, Ph.D. (2018-2024), Assistant Professor at Kyushu University, JPN

Jun Yokose, Ph.D. (2018-2024), Assistant Professor at University of Toyama, JPN

Joseph Terranova, Ph.D. (2017-2023), Assistant Professor at Midwestern University, USA

William Marks, Ph.D. (2018-2023), Assistant Professor of Instruction at University of Texas Dallas, USA

Ryang Kim, Ph.D. (2020-2022), Assistant Professor at University of Tokyo, JPN

Jun Yamamoto, Ph.D. (2017-2020), Assistant Professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA

Norimichi Ito, Ph.D. (2019-2020), Assistant Professor at Nagoya University, JPN

Tony Lopez (Rotation Student in 2023)

Simran Rastogi (Rotation Student in 2022)

Alexander Pope (Rotation Student in 2020)

Publications

Selected Papers

  • Kitamura T, Pignatelli M, Suh J, Kohara K, Yoshiki A, Abe K & Tonegawa S. Island cells control temporal association memory. Science, 343, 6137, 896-901, 2014

  • Kitamura T, Ogawa SK, Roy DS, Okuyama T, Morrissey MD, Smith LM, Redondo RL & Tonegawa S. Engrams and circuits crucial for systems consolidation of a memory. Science, 356, 6333, 73-78, 2017

  • Tonegawa S, Morrissey MD., & Kitamura T. The role of engram cells in the systems consolidation of memory. Nature Review Neuroscience. 19(8):485-498. 2018

  • Terranova, J. I., Yokose, J., Osanai, H., Marks, W. D., Yamamoto, J., Ogawa, S. K., & Kitamura, T. Hippocampal-amygdala memory circuits govern experience-dependent observational fear. Neuron. 110(8):1416-1431, 2022

  • Yokose J, Marks WD, & Kitamura T. Visuotactile integration facilitates mirror-induced self-directed behavior through activation of hippocampal neuronal ensembles in mice. Neuron. 112(2), 306-318, 2024

All Papers

  • Kitamura T, Ramesh K, & Terranova JI (2024). Understanding Others' Distress Through Past Experiences: The Role of Memory Engram Cells in Observational Fear. Adv Neurobiol. 2024;38:215-234. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-62983-9_12.

  • Yamamoto N, Yokose J, Ramesh K, Kitamura T, & Ogawa SK (2024). Outer layer of Vb neurons in medial entorhinal cortex project to hippocampal dentate gyrus in mice. Mol Brain. 2024 Feb 5;17(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s13041-024-01079-5.

  • Yokose J, Marks WD, & Kitamura T. (2024). Visuotactile integration facilitates mirror-induced self-directed behavior through activation of hippocampal neuronal ensembles in mice. Neuron. 112(2), 306-318

  • Yokose J, Yamamoto N, Ogawa SK, & Kitamura T. (2023). Optogenetic activation of dopamine D1 receptors in island cells of medial entorhinal cortex inhibits temporal association learning. Molecular Brain. 2023 Nov 14;16(1):78. doi: 10.1186/s13041-023-01065-3.

  • Terranova, J. I., Yokose, J., Osanai, H., Ogawa, S. K., & Kitamura, T. (2023). Systems consolidation induces multiple memory engrams for a flexible recall strategy in observational fear memory in male mice. Nature Communications. 14:3976, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39718-5

  • Osanai H, Yamamoto J. & Kitamura T. (2023). Extracting electromyographic signals from multi-channel LFP using independent component analysis without direct muscular recording. Cell Reports Methods. Published: May 17, 2023, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100482

  • Osanai H, Nair IR, & Kitamura T. (2023). Dissecting cell-type-specific pathways in medial entorhinal cortical-hippocampal network for episodic memory. Journal of Neurochemistry. May 30. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15850

  • Terranova, J. I., Yokose, J., Osanai, H., Marks, W. D., Yamamoto, J., Ogawa, S. K., & Kitamura, T. (2022). Hippocampal-amygdala memory circuits govern experience-dependent observational fear. Neuron. 110(8):1416-1431

  • Marks, W. D., Yokose, J., Kitamura, T., & Ogawa, S. K. (2022). Neuronal Ensembles Organize Activity to Generate Contextual Memory. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 75.

  • Yokose, J., Terranova, J. I., & Kitamura, T. (2021). Learning and memory: Shuffling memory traces by relearning. Current Biology, 31(24), R1588-R1591.

  • Marks, W. D., Yamamoto, N., & Kitamura, T. (2021). Complementary roles of differential medial entorhinal cortex inputs to the hippocampus for the formation and integration of temporal and contextual memory (Systems Neuroscience). European Journal of Neuroscience, 54(8), 6762-6779.

  • Yokose, J., Marks, W. D., Yamamoto, N., Ogawa, S. K., & Kitamura, T. (2021). Entorhinal cortical Island cells regulate temporal association learning with long trace period. Learning & Memory, 28(9), 319-328.

  • Yamamoto, N., Marks, W. D., & Kitamura, T. (2021). Cell-type-specific optogenetic techniques reveal neural circuits crucial for episodic memories. In Optogenetics (pp. 429-447). Springer, Singapore.

  • Kim, R., Yamamoto, N., & Kitamura, T. (2020). Extra neural ensemble disrupts memory recall. Nature neuroscience, 23(8), 905-907.

  • Marks, W. D., Osanai, H., Yamamoto, J., Ogawa, S. K., & Kitamura, T. (2019). Novel nose poke-based temporal discrimination tasks with concurrent in vivo calcium imaging in freely moving mice. Molecular Brain, 12(1), 1-5.

  • Terranova, J. I., Ogawa, S. K., & Kitamura, T. (2019). Adult hippocampal neurogenesis for systems consolidation of memory. Behavioural Brain Research, 372, 112035.

  • Ghandour K, Ohkawa N, Fung C. C. A., Asai H, Saitoh Y, Takekawa T, Okubo-Suzuki R, Soya S, Nishizono H, Matsuo M, Osanai M, Sato M, Ohkura M, Nakai J, Hayashi Y, Sakurai T, Kitamura T, Fukai T & Inokuchi K. (2019). Orchestrated ensemble activities constitute a hippocampal memory engram. Nat Communications. 10(1):2637

  • Osanai, H., Kitamura, T., & Yamamoto, J. (2019). Hybrid microdrive system with recoverable opto-silicon probe and tetrode for dual-site high density recording in freely moving mice. Journal of Visualized Experiments, (150), e60028.

  • Tonegawa S, Morrissey MD., & Kitamura T. (2018). The role of engram cells in the systems consolidation of memory. Nature Review Neuroscience. 2018 19(8):485-498.

  • Alam M.J., Kitamura T, Saitoh Y, Ohkawa N, Kondo T. & Inokuchi K. (2018). Adult neurogenesis conserves the hippocampal learning capacity, Journal of Neuroscience, 38, 31, 6854-6863

  • Kitamura, T. (2017). Driving and regulating temporal association learning coordinated by entorhinal-hippocampal network. Neuroscience research, 121, 1-6.

Before Kitamura Lab starts

  • Roy DS, Kitamura T, Okuyama T, Ogawa SK, Sun C, Obata Y, Yoshiki A & Tonegawa S. Distinct neural circuits for the formation and retrieval of episodic memories. Cell, 170, 5, 1000-1012, 2017

  • Kitamura T, Ogawa SK, Roy DS, Okuyama T, Morrissey MD, Smith LM, Redondo RL & Tonegawa S. Engrams and circuits crucial for systems consolidation of a memory. Science, 356, 6333, 73-78, 2017

  • Okuyama T, Kitamura T, Roy DS, Itohara S & Tonegawa S. Ventral CA1 neurons store social memory. Science, 353, 6307, 1536-1541, 2016

  • Kitamura T, Sun C, Martin J, Kitch LJ, Schnitzer MJ & Tonegawa S. Entorhinal cortical ocean cells encode specific contexts and drive context-specific fear memory. Neuron, 87, 6, 1317-1331, 2015

  • Sun C, Kitamura T, Yamamoto J, Martin J, Pignatelli M, Kitch LJ, Schnitzer MJ & Tonegawa S. Distinct speed dependence of entorhinal island and ocean cells, including respective grid cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 112, 30, 9466-9471, 2015

  • Kitamura T, MacDonald CJ & Tonegawa S. Entorhinal-hippocampal neuronal circuits bridge temporally discontiguous events. Learning & Memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), 22, 9, 438-43, 2015

  • Sariñana J, Kitamura T, Künzler P, Sultzman L & Tonegawa S. Differential roles of the dopamine 1-class receptors, D1R and D5R, in hippocampal dependent memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 111, 22, 8245-8250, 2014

  • Kitamura T, Pignatelli M, Suh J, Kohara K, Yoshiki A, Abe K & Tonegawa S. Island cells control temporal association memory. Science, 343, 6137, 896-901, 2014

  • Kitamura T & Inokuchi K. Role of adult neurogenesis in hippocampal-cortical memory consolidation. Mol Brain, 7, 13, 2014

  • Kohara K, Pignatelli M, Rivest AJ, Jung HY, Kitamura T, Suh J, Frank D, Kajikawa K, Mise N, Obata Y, Wickersham IR & Tonegawa S. Cell type–specific genetic and optogenetic tools reveal hippocampal CA2 circuits. Nature Neuroscience, 17, 2, 269-279, 2014

  • Kitamura T, Okubo-Suzuki R, Takashima N, Murayama A, Hino T, Nishizono H, Kida S & Inokuchi K.　Hippocampal function is not required for the precision of remote place memory. Mol Brain, 5, 15, 2012

  • Sagata NA, Iwaki A, Aramaki T, Takao K, Kura S, Tsuzuki T, Kawakami R, Ito I, Kitamura T, Sugiyama H, Miyakawa T & Fukumaki Y. Comprehensive behavioural study of GluR4 knockout mice: implication in cognitive function.   Genes Brain Behav, 9, 8, 899-909, 2010

  • Kitamura T, Saitoh Y, Murayama A., Sugiyama H & Inokuchi K. LTP induction within a narrow critical period of immature stages enhances the survival of newly generated neurons in the adult rat dentate gyrus. Mol Brain, 3, 13, 2010

  • Kitamura T, Saitoh Y, Takashima N, Murayama A, Niibori Y, Ageta H, Sekiguchi M, Sugiyama H & Inokuchi K. Adult neurogenesis modulates the hippocampus-dependent period of associative fear memory. Cell, 139, 4, 814-827, 2009

  • Kitamura T & Sugiyama H. Running wheel exercises accelerate neuronal turnover in mouse dentate gyrus.   Neurosci Res, 56, 1, 45-52, 2006

  • Kitamura T, Mishina M & Sugiyama H. Dietary restriction increases hippocampal neurogenesis by molecular mechanisms independent of NMDA receptors. Neurosci Lett, 393, 2-3, 2006

  • Kitamura T, Mishina M & Sugiyama H. Enhancement of neurogenesis by running wheel exercises is suppressed in mice lacking NMDA receptor e1 subunit.  Neurosci Res, 47, 1, 55-63, 2003