A major focus of my research is to study the biological mechanisms of individual differences in social behaviors such as aggression as well as emotionality. To study neural circuit, genetic basis, and immune system that is involved in individual differences of those behaviors, we use mouse models and a combination of detailed behavioral observation method and neuroscience techniques such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, and in vivo microdialysis.

• Takahashi A, Durand-de Cuttoli R, Flanigan ME, Hasegawa E, Tsunematsu T, Aleyasin H, Cherasse Y, Miya K, Okada T, Keino-Masu K, Mitsui K, Li L, Patel V, Blitzer RD, Lazarus M, Tanaka KF, Yamanaka A, Sakurai T, Ogawa S, Russo SJ (2022) Lateral habenula glutamatergic neurons projecting to the dorsal raphe nucleus promote aggressive arousal in mice. Nature Communications. 13:4039.
• Takahashi A, Aleyasin H, Stavarache MA, Li, L, Cathomas F, Parise LF, Lin H, Burnett CJ, Flanigan ME, Brancato A, Menard C, Pfau ML, Kana V, Wang J, Hodes GE, Sasaki T, Kaplitt MG, Ogawa S, McEwen BS, Russo SJ (2022) Neuromodulatory effect of interleukin 1β in the dorsal raphe nucleus on individual differences in aggression. Molecular Psychiatry. 27(5):2563-2579.
• Takahashi A (2022) Social stress and aggression in murine models. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 54:181-208. 
• Takahashi A (2021) Toward understanding the sex differences in the biological mechanism of social stress in mouse models. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 12:644161. 
• Flanigan ME, Aleyasin H, Li L, Burnett CJ, Chan KL, LeClair KB, Lucas EK, Matikainen-Ankney B, Cuttoli RD, Takahashi A, Menard C, Pfau ML, Golden SA, Bouchard S, Calipari ES, Nestler EJ, DiLeone RJ, Yamanaka A, Huntley GW, Clem RL, Russo SJ (2020) Orexin signaling in GABAergic lateral habenula neurons modulates aggressive behavior in male mice. Nature Neuroscience. 23:638–650.
• Takahashi A, Flanigan ME, McEwen BS, Russo SJ (2018) Aggression, social stress and the immune system in humans and animal models. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. 12:56.
• Golden SA, Takahashi A. (2018) Combinatorial psycho-pharmacological approaches for the treatment of abnormal aggression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 43(2):233-234. 【Commentary】
• Aleyasin H, Flanigan ME, Golden SA, Takahashi A, Menard C, Pfau ML, Multer J, Pina J, McCabe KA, Bhatti N, Hodes GE, Heshmati M, Neve RL, Nestler EJ, Heller EA, Russo SJ (2018) Cell-type-specific role of FosB in nucleus accumbens in modulating intermale aggression. The Journal of Neuroscience. 38(26):5913-5924.
• Heshmati M, Aleyasin H, Menard C, Christoffel DJ, Flanigan ME, Pfau ML, Goff PH, Hodes GE, Lepack A, Bicks L, Takahashi A, Chandra R, Turecki G, Lobo MK, Maze I, Golden SA, Russo SJ (2018) Cell-type specific role for nucleus accumbens neuroligin-2 in depression and stress susceptibility. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U S A. 115(5):1111-1116.
• Takahashi A, Chung J, Zhang S, Zhang H, Grossman Y, Aleyasin H, Flanigan ME, Pfau ML, Menard C, Dumitriu D, Hodes GE, McEwen BS, Nestler EJ, Han MH, Russo SJ (2017) Establishment of a repeated social defeat stress model in female mice. Scientific Reports. 7(1):12838.
• Menard C, Pfau ML, Hodes GE, Kana V, Wang VX, Bouchard S, Takahashi A, Flanigan ME, Aleyasin H, LeClair KB, Janssen WG, Labonté B, Parise EM, Lorsch ZS, Golden SA, Heshmati M, Tamminga C, Turecki G, Campbell M, Fayad ZA, Tang CY, Merad M, Russo SJ. (2017) Social stress induces neurovascular pathology promoting depression. Nature Neuroscience. 20, 1752–1760.

The Japan Neuroscience Society
The Japanese Society for Animal Psychology
Society for Neuroscience
The International Society for Researches on Aggression