Tom Macpherson

Profile Information

Affiliation

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University

Degree

PhD (Neuroscience)(University of Sussex, UK)

Contact information

macpherson.tom.3jkyoto-u.ac.jp

Researcher number

40821898

ORCID iD

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0250-1146

J-GLOBAL ID

202001018017221666

researchmap Member ID

R000000563

Major Research Interests

• Optogenetics
• Mouse
• Single-cell level In-vivo Brain Imaging
• Striatum
• Psychiatric Conditions
• Decision-making
• Learning
• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Neuroscience

Research Areas

• Life sciences / Animals: biochemistry, physiology, behavioral science /
• Life sciences / Psychiatry /
• Life sciences / Neuroscience - general /

Research History

• Apr, 2025 - Present

  Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University
• 2020 - May, 2025

  Assistant Professor, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University
• 2018 - 2020

  Specially Appointed Assistant Professor, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University
• 2017 - 2018

  Postdoctoral Researcher, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
• 2014 - 2017

  JSPS Research Fellow, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
• 2014 - 2014

  Postdoctoral Researcher, Neuroscience, Sussex University

Education

• 2009 - 2014

  Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience PhD, Neuroscience, Sussex University
• 2006 - 2009

  Psychology and Neuroscience, Neuroscience, Sussex University

Awards

• Oct, 2023

  Young Investigator Award, Osaka University

  Tom Macpherson
• Aug, 2016

  JNS-SfN Exchange Travel Award, Japan Neuroscience Society

  Tom Macpherson
• Jul, 2013

  Centenary Early Career Award, UK Medical Research Council

  Tom Macpherson

Papers

• Inside insight: decoding how insight emerges from competing world models

  Kengo Inutsuka, Tadaaki Nishioka, Tom Macpherson, Mana Fujiwara, Takatoshi Hikida, Honda Naoki

  May 26, 2026
• Essential Roles of Heparan Sulfate Endosulfatase Sulf1 in Reward and Aversion Learning Through Distinct Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptor Pathways in Male Mice.

  Ken Miya, Kent Ohta, Kazuko Keino-Masu, Takuya Okada, Seiya Mizuno, Satoru Takahashi, Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikida, Masayuki Masu

  Journal of neurochemistry, 170(1) e70338, Jan, 2026 Peer-reviewed
• Flexible value coding in the mesolimbic dopamine system depending on internal water and sodium balance.

  Takaaki Ozawa, Issei Nakagawa, Yuuki Uchida, Mayuka Abe, Tom Macpherson, Yuichi Yamashita, Takatoshi Hikida

  NPJ science of food, 9(1) 197-197, Sep 30, 2025 Peer-reviewed
• 味覚情報伝達の分子・神経機構 味覚の相乗作用と情動生成を司るトップダウン神経回路

  小澤 貴明, 尾山 賀信, 柴田 智弘, 阿部 万友佳, 後藤 健太朗, 米丸 ひなの, 松本 悠真, 岩本 涼太郎, 櫻井 航輝, マクファーソン・トム …

  Journal of Oral Biosciences Supplement, 2024 [US13-04], Nov, 2024
• Sex-dependent differences in the ability of nicotine to modulate discrimination learning and cognitive flexibility in mice.

  Yoshiatsu Aomine, Yuto Shimo, Koki Sakurai, Mayuka Abe, Tom Macpherson, Takaaki Ozawa, Takatoshi Hikida

  Journal of neurochemistry, Sep 17, 2024 Peer-reviewed
• Clozapine N-oxide, compound 21, and JHU37160 do not influence effortful reward-seeking behavior in mice

  Yoshiatsu Aomine, Yoshinobu Oyama, Koki Sakurai, Tom Macpherson, Takaaki Ozawa, Takatoshi Hikida

  Psychopharmacology, Oct, 2023 Peer-reviewed
• α4-containing GABA_Areceptors on DRD2-neurons of the nucleus accumbens mediate instrumental responding for conditioned reinforcers, and its potentiation by cocaine

  Tom Macpherson, Claire I. Dixon, Jonathan Robertson, Marsha M. Sindarto, Patricia H. Janak, Delia Belelli, Jeremy J. Lambert, David N. Stephens, Sarah L. King

  eNeuro, ENEURO.0236-23.2023, Aug 8, 2023 Peer-reviewedLead authorCorresponding author
• Dual roles for nucleus accumbens core dopamine D1-expressing neurons projecting to the substantia nigra pars reticulata in limbic and motor control in male mice

  Suthinee Attachaipanich, Takaaki Ozawa, Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikida

  eNeuro, ENEURO.0082-23.2023, May 26, 2023 Peer-reviewedLast authorCorresponding author
• Error-related signaling in nucleus accumbens D2 receptor-expressing neurons guides inhibition-based choice behavior in mice

  Tadaaki Nishioka, Suthinee Attachaipanich, Kosuke Hamaguchi, Michael Lazarus, Alban de Kerchove d’Exaerde, Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikida

  Nature Communications, 14(1), Apr 21, 2023 Peer-reviewedLast authorCorresponding author
• Circuit, molecular, and developmental mechanisms in decision-making behavior

  Tom Macpherson, Minae Niwa, Hirofumi Morishita, Takatoshi Hikida

  Frontiers in Neuroscience, 17 1192237-1192237, Apr, 2023 Peer-reviewedLead authorCorresponding author
• Elucidating the role of neurotransmission via D1 and D2 dopamine receptors in the mechanisms of motor control, learning, and memory

  Nae Saito, Makoto Itakura, Kazuki Tainaka, Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikida, Shun Yamaguchi, Asako Sato, Tadashi Okubo, Satomi Chiken, Atsushi Nambu …

  Japanese Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 33(3) 100-105, Sep, 2022 Peer-reviewed
• Importin α3 (KPNA3) Deficiency Augments Effortful Reward-Seeking Behavior in Mice

  Yoshiatsu Aomine, Koki Sakurai, Tom Macpherson, Takaaki Ozawa, Yoichi Miyamoto, Yoshihiro Yoneda, Masahiro Oka, Takatoshi Hikida

  Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16 905991-905991, Jun 30, 2022 Peer-reviewed
• Nucleus Accumbens Core Dopamine D2 Receptor-Expressing Neurons Control Reversal Learning but Not Set-Shifting in Behavioral Flexibility in Male Mice

  Tom Macpherson, Ji Yoon Kim, Takatoshi Hikida

  Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, Jun 28, 2022 Peer-reviewedLead authorCorresponding author
• Error-related Signaling in Nucleus Accumbens D2 Receptor-expressing Neurons Guides Avoidance-based Goal-directed Behavior

  Tadaaki Nishioka, Tom Macpherson, Kosuke Hamaguchi, Takatoshi Hikida

  Research Square, Jan 5, 2022 Last authorCorresponding author
• Natural and Artificial Intelligence: A brief introduction to the interplay between AI and neuroscience research.

  Tom Macpherson, Anne Churchland, Terry Sejnowski, James DiCarlo, Yukiyasu Kamitani, Hidehiko Takahashi, Takatoshi Hikida

  Neural networks : the official journal of the International Neural Network Society, 144 603-613, Dec, 2021 Peer-reviewedLead author
• Parallel and hierarchical neural mechanisms for adaptive and predictive behavioral control

  Tom Macpherson, Masayuki Matsumoto, Hiroaki Gomi, Jun Morimoto, Eiji Uchibe, Takatoshi Hikida

  Neural Networks, 144 507-521, Sep, 2021 Peer-reviewedLead author
• Distinct Roles of Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptor-expressing Neurons in the Nucleus Accumbens for a Strategy Dependent Decision Making

  Tadaaki Nishioka, Tom Macpherson, Kosuke Hamaguchi, Takatoshi Hikida

  BioRxiv, Aug 5, 2021
• Effects of Importin α1/KPNA1 deletion and adolescent social isolation stress on psychiatric disorder-associated behaviors in mice.

  Koki Sakurai, Taichi Itou, Makiko Morita, Emiko Kasahara, Tetsuji Moriyama, Tom Macpherson, Takaaki Ozawa, Yoichi Miyamoto, Yoshihiro Yoneda, Atsuo Sekiyama …

  PloS one, 16(11) e0258364, 2021 Peer-reviewed
• Neurotransmission through dopamine D1 receptors is required for aversive memory formation and Arc activation in the cerebral cortex.

  Nae Saito, Kazuki Tainaka, Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikida, Shun Yamaguchi, Toshikuni Sasaoka

  Neuroscience research, 156 58-65, May 5, 2020 Peer-reviewed
• Nucleus accumbens pathways control cell-specific gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex.

  Takatoshi Hikida, Shuhei Yao, Tom Macpherson, Ayumi Fukakusa, Makiko Morita, Haruhide Kimura, Keisuke Hirai, Tatsuya Ando, Hiroyoshi Toyoshiba, Akira Sawa

  Scientific reports, 10(1) 1838-1838, Feb 4, 2020 Peer-reviewedLead author

Misc.

• 味覚の相乗作用と情動生成を司るトップダウン神経回路

  小澤貴明, 尾山賀信, 柴田智弘, 阿部万友佳, 後藤健太朗, 米丸ひなの, 松本悠真, 岩本涼太郎, 櫻井航輝, マクファーソン トム …

  Journal of Oral Biosciences Supplement (Web), 2024, 2024
• 腕傍核から腹側被蓋野への神経回路の光遺伝学を用いた活性化によるマウスの場所嗜好性並びに回避行動に与える影響

  尾山賀信, 小澤貴明, マクファーソン トム, 疋田貴俊

  日本生物学的精神医学会(Web), 46th, 2024
• 恐怖条件づけ中のマウス脳内における領域特異的なドーパミン放出動態

  小澤貴明, 梅本和宏, 岩本涼太郎, 中村萌, 松本悠真, 尾山賀信, 柴田智弘, MACPHERSON Tom, 疋田貴俊

  日本生物学的精神医学会(Web), 46th, 2024
• アルコール依存症関連行動を制御する核-細胞質間輸送メカニズム

  青峰良淳, 青峰良淳, 櫻井航輝, 櫻井航輝, マクファーソン トム, マクファーソン トム, 小澤貴明, 小澤貴明, 宮本洋一, 米田悦啓 …

  日本生物学的精神医学会(Web), 46th, 2024
• アルコール消費および耐性を上昇させる核-細胞質間輸送異常

  青峰良淳, 櫻井航輝, 足立淳, マクファーソン トム, 小澤貴明, 宮本洋一, 米田悦啓, 岡正啓, 疋田貴俊

  日本分子生物学会年会プログラム・要旨集(Web), 47th, 2024
• The role of dopaminergic circuits on the enhancing effects of umami on salt seeking behavior in mice.

  柴田智弘, 米丸ひなの, 松本悠真, 中村萌, 岩本涼太郎, 尾山賀信, 櫻井航輝, MACPHERSON Tom, 疋田貴俊, 小澤貴明

  日本味と匂学会誌, 2021
• Nucleus Accumbens D1 Receptor-Expressing Neurons Control Autoshaping Behavior

  Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikida

  NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, 43 S287-S287, Nov, 2017
• Social Isolated DISC1 Mutant Mice Displayed High Sensitivity to Chronic Cocaine Exposure and Rolipram Treatment

  Takatoshi Hikida, Makiko Morita, Mahomi Kuroiwa, Tom Macpherson, Taichi Itou, Takahide Shuto, Naoki Sotogaku, Minae Niwa, Akira Sawa, Akinori Nishi

  NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, 40 S249-S249, Dec, 2015
• 社会的ストレス下においてDISC1変異マウスのコカイン感受性はPDE4により制御される(Cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization is regulated by PDE4 in social stressed DISC1 mutant mice)

  疋田 貴俊, 森田 真規子, マクファーソン・トム, 伊藤 大一, 丹羽 美苗, 黒岩 真帆美, 澤 明, 西 昭徳

  日本生物学的精神医学会・日本神経精神薬理学会合同年会プログラム・抄録集, 37回・45回 189-189, Sep, 2015

Presentations

• Striatal control of cue-guided decision-making and its impairment in psychiatric conditions

  Tom Macpherson

  47th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS), Jul 26, 2024 Invited
• Striatal mechanisms guiding reward, aversion, and decision-making

  Tom Macpherson

  Inscopix Webinar, Jun 20, 2024 Invited
• Error-related signaling in nucleus accumbens D2 receptor-expressing neurons guides inhibition-based choice behavior

  Tom Macpherson

  Molecular and Cellular Cognition Society (MCCS) Meeting, Nov 9, 2023 Invited
• Striatal mechanisms of discrimination learning and their dysfunction in psychiatric conditions

  Tom Macpherson

  5th Annual Meeting of the UK-Japan Neuroscience Sympsoium, Sep, 2023 Invited
• Striatal mechanisms of cue-guided decision-making and its dysfunction in schizophrenia model mice

  Tom Macpherson

  46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS), Jul, 2023 Invited
• Cell-type-specific control of reward and aversive signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens

  Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikida

  100th Annual Meeting of The Physiological Society of Japan Meeting, Mar 14, 2023 Invited
• Striatal mechanisms of discrimination learning and their dysfunction in schizophrenia model mice

  Macpherson T, Morita M, Sawa A, Hikida T

  52nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Nov 16, 2022 Invited
• Neural mechanisms in reward and aversion signaling

  Macpherson T, Attachaipanich S, Nishioka T, Ozawa T, Hikida T

  National Institute of Physiological Science (NIPS) Emotion Conference, Sep 8, 2022 Invited
• Neural mechanisms in reward and aversion signaling

  Macpherson T, Attachaipanich S, Nishioka T, Ozawa T, Hikida T

  45th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS), Jun 30, 2022 Invited
• Parallel Neural Circuit Mechanisms in Behavioral Flexibility

  Tom Macpherson

  15th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Motor Control, Oct, 2021 Invited
• Nucleus accumbens D2-receptor-expressing neurons regulate reversal learning in the Attentional Set-Shifting Test

  Tom Macpherson, Jiyoon Kim, Takatoshi Hikida

  44th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS), Jun, 2021
• Nucleus accumbens pathways control cell-specific gene expression in the medial prefrontal cortex

  Tom Macpherson, Shuhei Yao, Ayumi Fukakusa, Makiko Morita, Haruhide Kimura, Keisuke Hirai, Tatsuya Ando, Hiroshi Toyoshiba, Akira Sawa

  43rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS), Jun, 2020
• A role for Enkephalin-expressing ventral pallidal neurons in controlling aversive Pavlovian Conditioning

  Tom Macpherson

  97th Annual Meeting of the Physiological Society of Japan, Mar, 2020 Invited
• Altered medial prefrontal cortex gene expression following nucleus accumbens pathway neurotransmission blocking

  Tom Macpherson, Shuhei Yao, Ayumi Fukakusa, Makiko Morita, Haruhide Kimura, Keisuke Hirai, Tatsuya Ando, Hiroshi Toyoshiba, Akira Sawa

  10th Takeda Science Foundation Symposium, Jan, 2020
• A role for nucleus accumbens D1-/D2-neuron pathways in controlling learning impaired in psychiatric disorders

  Tom Macpherson

  42nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS), Jul, 2019 Invited
• Ventral pallidum neurons control aversive learning

  Tom Macpherson, Hiroyuki Mizoguchi, Akihiro Yamanaka, Takatoshi Hikida

  48th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Nov, 2018
• Ventral pallidum neurons control aversive learning

  Tom Macpherson, Hiroyuki Mizoguchi, Akihiro Yamanaka, Takatoshi Hikida

  11th Meeting of the Federation for European Neuroscience Society (FENS), Jul, 2018
• Ventral pallidum neurons control aversive learning

  Tom Macpherson, Hiroyuki Mizoguchi, Akihiro Yamanaka, Takatoshi Hikida

  41st Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society (JNS), Jul, 2018
• Dopamine D2L receptors control behavioral flexibility

  Tom Macpherson

  2nd Joint Symposium on Protein Structure and Function, Dec, 2017 Invited
• Nucleus Accumbens D1-receptor-expressing neurons control autoshaping behavior

  Tom Macpherson, Takatoshi Hikida

  47th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Nov, 2017

Teaching Experience

• 2018 - Present

  Machikane Seminar Series (Neuroscience) (Osaka University)
• 2015 - 2018

  Medicine (Basic Neuroanatomy) (Kyoto University)
• 2009 - 2013

  Psychology (Neurobiology of Addiction Course) (Sussex University)

Professional Memberships

• 2016 - Present

  Society for Neuroscience
• May, 2014 - Present

  The Physiological Society of Japan
• May, 2014 - Present

  The Japan Neuroscience Society

Research Projects

• 失敗から学習するための神経回路・分子機構とその破綻

  科学研究費助成事業, 基盤研究(B), 日本学術振興会, Apr, 2025 - Mar, 2028

  疋田 貴俊, Tom Macpherson, 小澤 貴明
• Elucidation of the neural mechanism of strategic decision-making and the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders

  Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), JSPS, Apr, 2022 - Apr, 2025

  Takatoshi Hikida, Tom Macpherson, Takaaki Ozawa
• 戦略的な意思決定の神経機構と精神疾患病態の解明

  科学研究費助成事業, 基盤研究(B), 日本学術振興会, Apr, 2022 - Mar, 2025

  疋田 貴俊, マクファーソン トム, 小澤 貴明
• 戦略的な意思決定の神経機構と精神疾患病態の解明

  科学研究費助成事業, 基盤研究(B), 日本学術振興会, Apr, 2022 - Mar, 2025

  疋田 貴俊, マクファーソン トム, 小澤 貴明
• Investigation of nucleus accumbens subpopulations controlling reward and aversive learning

  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Apr, 2021 - Mar, 2023

  Tom Macpherson
• Neural circuit mechanism of reward / goal-oriented behavior

  Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research New Academic Area Research (Research Area Proposal Type), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Jun, 2016 - Mar, 2021

  Takatoshi Hikida, Tom Macpherson, Takaaki Ozawa, Takashi Yamaguchi
• Neuronal circuit mechanisms in prepulse inhibition

  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research, Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Apr, 2016 - Mar, 2019

  Takatoshi Hikida, Tom Macpherson, Makiko Morita
• Basal ganglia circuit mechanisms in cognitive behavior and neuropsychiatric pathology

  Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Apr, 2015 - Mar, 2019

  Takatoshi Hikida, Tom Macpherson, Makiko Morita