Research Topic
We investigate how people learn and use multiple languages, and how the brain supports these processes. Using neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI and behavioral experiments, we explore how memory, emotion, and social interaction influence language. We also aim to uncover, from both neurocognitive and social perspectives, the mechanisms by which individuals learn languages, communicate, and make multilingual and culturally grounded behavioral choices in diverse and international contexts.
Our current research topics include:
Exploring similarities and differences between first and second languages
Studying the mechanisms of language control in bilinguals
Analyzing the effects of nonverbal factors (e.g., gestures, facial expressions, face-to-face interaction) on language communication
Investigating the relationship between language and emotion
Understanding how context and environment affect language learning and communication, including individual differences
Examining social learning models in language acquisition
Uncovering the cognitive mechanisms behind language choice during disasters
and more.
During the 2016-2017 academic year, I was a visiting scholar at the Brain, Language, and Computation Lab at Pennsylvania State University. I am on the editorial board of Brain and Language.
Our team conducts interdisciplinary research and actively collaborates with scholars in linguistics, education, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience—both in Japan and abroad. For more details about our research themes and collaborators, please see the Current Projects page. We welcome students and researchers with a strong interest and background in experimental research.