image: Professor Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama, who is leading the Neuronal Mechanism for Critical Period Unit at OIST. OIST Professor Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama has been awarded the 39th Nakaakira Tsukahara Memorial Award for the year 2024.
Credit: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
OIST Professor Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama has been awarded the 39th Nakaakira Tsukahara Memorial Award for the year 2024. This prestigious award honors young researchers who have conducted outstanding and original research in the life sciences. Prof. Yazaki-Sugiyama’s research theme, “Neural mechanisms of vocal learning during developmental critical periods,” was highly acclaimed.
The Tsukahara Memorial Award is administered by the Brain Science Foundation to promote neuroscience and support researchers. It commemorates the achievements of the late Professor Nakaakira Tsukahara of Osaka University, who dedicated his life to exploring the neural mechanisms of memory and learning. The award is presented to young researchers who carry on his legacy.
Professor Yazaki-Sugiyama joined OIST in 2011, at the time of its founding, and has led the Neuronal Mechanism for Critical Period Unit, investigating the neural basis of vocal learning using zebra finches as a model. Her research has revealed several key findings, on published topics such as:
- Memory formation in higher auditory regions when juvenile zebra finches listen to their parents’ songs (Yanagihara & Yazaki-Sugiyama, 2016)
- Innate responsiveness of the primary auditory cortex to song tempo, enabling species-specific song recognition (Araki et al., 2016)
- Learning mechanisms through social vocal communication (Katic et al., 2022)
These studies have significantly advanced our understanding of neural plasticity and brain learning mechanisms in vocal learning.
Upon receiving the award, Professor Yazaki-Sugiyama commented:
“Looking back on my research journey, I realize that despite many ups and downs, I have always been supported by mentors and colleagues. Science is shaped through communication with them. Our lab’s theme is Learning to communicate, but what we are truly doing is Learning from communicating. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of my scientific journey.”
Prof. Yazaki-Sugiyama is scheduled to deliver an award lecture on the opening day of the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society, which will be held in Niigata City from Thursday, July 24 to Sunday, July 27, 2025.
For more information on the research achievements of the Neuronal Mechanism for Critical Period Unit, please visit the following link:
https://www.oist.jp/research/research-units/nmcpu/news