Masahito Nara
Papers
2
Total Citations
20
H-Index
2
About
Masahito Nara is a theoretical biologist whose work bridges nonlinear dynamics and insect behavior, with a particular focus on how small neural circuits generate adaptive social decisions. His research centers on oscillator network models that explain sensor–motor coordination and group-size-dependent behavioral switches in insects. In his most cited work, Nara modeled how male crickets use an oscillator network to regulate aggression based on social experience—showing that defeated individuals avoid victors for hours, but repeated fighting prevents recovery of aggressiveness. This paper (12 citations) offers a mechanistic explanation for dominance hierarchy formation. His 2008 study (8 citations) further explored how crickets modulate aggression through global neural connections in pheromone processing, proposing a simple switching mechanism for sensor–motor coordination. Though his citation counts are modest, Nara’s work is notable for its conceptual elegance: it demonstrates how insects with tiny brains achieve highly adaptive behavior through minimal neural architecture. His models provide a foundation for understanding how oscillator networks can encode memory and context-dependent decision-making, making his research valuable for students interested in the intersection of dynamical systems, ethology, and neurobiology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2