Biography
Dr. Erika Nurmi is the medical director of the UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program, the associate director of the psychiatry residency research track, and a member of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Dr. Nurmi’s research focuses the genetic basis of childhood OCD and tic disorders. With Dr. James McCracken, she is investigating pharmacogenomic factors in the treatment of autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. She also collaborates with Dr. Edythe London in examining genetic predictors of substance abuse phenotypes.
Biography
Auditory Neurophysiology, Mechanics and Behavior My research focuses on the question of how animals extract relevant sounds from the often highly noisy backgrounds in which they live. The techniques I use are the quantitative analysis of vocal behavior of animals in their natural habitats, followed by single fiber neurophysiological recordings in order to elucidate mechanisms underlying signal processing in noise. A second research direction is based on the discovery of the remarkable sensitivity to substrate vibrations possessed by burrowing animals. We are now characterizing and providing accurate measurements of vibrational thresholds as well as exploring the differences between substrate-vibration and airborne sound at the cellular level. Other projects carried out by our group have included an investigation of the neurophysiological basis of sound localization in noisy environments, a study of the temperature-dependence of the representation of time in the vertebrate auditory system, the biophysics of sound localization and the evolution of the middle ear reflex in vertebrates. Current projects include using laser Doppler vibrometry to elucidate the sound pathways relevant for stimulation of both the middle and inner ear in small vertebrates, and using whole-cell voltage clamp techniques to carry out an anatomical and physiological study of the mechanisms underlying transduction in vertebrate sensory hair cells. When possible, we supplement the lab work with direct behavioral observations and controlled acoustic playback studies carried out with animals in their natural habitats. These have included both Old and New World lowland wet tropical forests, African deserts and temperate forests in South America.
Publications
A selected list of publications:
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Akihiro Nishi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. He is a social epidemiologist specializing in network sciences and evolutionary game theory (see Nishi, Social Science & Medicine, 2015). His areas of focus include the improvement of economic inequality and the inequality of well-being in online social networks (e.g. Nishi et al, Nature, 2015); examining health consequences of nationwide policies in aging countries such as Japan (e.g. Tamiya et al, Lancet, 2011); promoting motorcycle helmet use in Thailand (e.g. Nishi et al, Bulletin of WHO, 2018); and developing network interventions to address the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g. Nishi et al, PNAS, 2020: link below). His research has had broad media attention including New York Times, CNN, NBC, PBS NewsHour, NHK News 7, and others. His papers are available through Google Scholar or PubMed (links below). He teaches Intro and Intermediate R (EPI 407A and B) as well as Social Network Analysis (EPI217). Nishi Research Lab is currently looking for creative researchers (postdocs, graduate, undergraduate, and high school students) and collaborators from around the world. Dr. Nishi is also actively looking for new research contracts, donations, and collaborations. Twitter: @Nishi_Akihiro
[JP] 西 晃弘助教授は、2007年東京大学医学部医学科卒業後、北海道北見赤十字病院にて初期臨床研修修了。ハーバード大学にて公衆衛生学修士号(疫学・生物統計学)・公衆衛生学博士号(社会行動科学)を取得後、2016年より現職。タイ人の妻と子一人。新型コロナウイルス対策のシミュレーションの研究のほか、社会格差や人間行動の研究をネットワーク科学の手法を用いて行っている。総合科学雑誌ネイチャーや米国科学アカデミー紀要、英国医学雑誌ランセットなど一流誌に多数掲載あり。また、これまでの研究内容はCNN、NY Times、NHK News 7、朝日新聞などに広く取り上げられている。取材、講演や相談、共同研究、受託研究、寄付や投げ銭(下記リンク)、コンサルタンシーなど幅広く受け入れています。Twitter: @Nishi_Akihiro
Akihiro Nishi es profesor asistente en el departamento de Epidemiología de la Facultad de Salud Pública de UCLA Fielding. Es un epidemiólogo social especializado en ciencias de redes y teoría de juegos evolutivos (ver Nishi, Social Science & Medicine, 2015). Sus áreas de enfoque incluyen el mejoramiento de la desigualdad económica y la desigualdad del bienestar en las redes sociales en línea (p. ej. Nishi et al, Nature, 2015); examina las consecuencias para la salud de las estrategias nacionales en países que envejecen como Japón (p. ej. Tamiya et al, Lancet, 2011); También promueve el uso del casco de motocicleta en Tailandia (p. ej. Nishi et al, Bulletin of WHO, 2018); Su investigación más reciente identifica el desarrollo de las intervenciones de la red para abordar la pandemia del COVID-19 (p. ej. Nishi et al, PNAS, 2020: enlace a continuación). Su investigación ha alcanzado una amplia atención de los medios, incluyendo New York Times, CNN, NBC, PBS NewsHour, NHK News 7 y otros. Sus artículos están disponibles a través de Google Scholar o PubMed (enlaces a continuación). Enseña Intro e Intermediate R (EPI 407A y B) así como Análisis de Redes Sociales (EPI217). Nishi Research Lab está buscando investigadores creativos (postdoctorados, graduados, estudiantes de pregrado y preparatoria) y colaboradores de todo el mundo. El Dr. Nishi también está buscando activamente nuevos contratos de investigación, donaciones y colaboraciones. Nishi Research Lab está buscando investigadores creativos (postdoctorados, graduados, estudiantes de pregrado y preparatoria) y colaboradores de todo el mundo. El Dr. Nishi también está buscando activamente nuevos contratos de investigación, donaciones y colaboraciones. Twitter: @Nishi_Akihiro
Nishi A, Dewey G, Endo A, Neman S, Iwamoto SK, Ni MY, Tsugawa Y, Iosifidis G, Smith JD, Young S. Network Interventions for Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic and Sustaining Economy. PNAS ePub
Nishi A, Singkham P, Takasaki Y, Ichikawa M, Chadbunchachai W, Shibuya K, Tanasugarn C. Role of motorcycle helmet use in achieving the National Action Plan in Thailand. Bulletin of World Health Organization 2018, 96:5 514-514A
Nishi A, Christakis NA. Human behavior under economic inequality shapes inequality. PNAS 2015, 112:52 15781-2
Nishi A, Shirado H, Rand DG, Christakis NA. Inequality and visibility of wealth in experimental social networks. Nature 2015, 526, 426-429
Nishi A*. Evolution and social epidemiology. Social Science & Medicine 2015, 145, 132-7
Nishi A*, McWilliams JM, Noguchi H, Hashimoto H, Tamiya N, and Kawachi I. Health benefits from reduced patient cost sharing in Japan. Bulletin of the World Health Organization2012, 1:90 426-435A
Tamiya N, Noguchi H, Nishi A, Reich MR, Ikegami N, Hashimoto H, Shibuya K, Kawachi I, Campbell JC. Population ageing and wellbeing: lessons from Japan’s long-term care insurance policy. Lancet 2011, 378:9797 1183-92
COVID-19-related links:
The latest PNAS paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/11/10/2014297117
English press release: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/strategy-reopening-economy-covid19
Japanese press release: TBD
COVID-19 network simulation page: TBD
Donate and support us here: https://giving.ucla.edu/NishiCovid19