Shinsuke Shimojo

Shinsuke Shimojo is the Gertrude Baltimore Professor of Experimental Psychology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He holds a B.A. (1978), M.A. (1980) from the University of Tokyo, and a Ph.D. (1985) from MIT. At Caltech, he has served as Associate Professor (1997–98), Professor (1999–2010), and Baltimore Professor (2010–present). His research focuses on perceptual decision-making, implicit cognition, and the neural mechanisms underlying sensory perception and social interaction. His work employs advanced methods like fMRI, EEG, and transcranial stimulation to study topics such as crossmodal integration, visual illusions, and the social brain.

Shimojo leads the Shimojo Psychophysics Laboratory, collaborating with institutions like NTT Communication Science Laboratories, Harvard MGH, and MetaModal Inc. His lab investigates phenomena like sensory substitution, team flow dynamics, and human magnetoreception. Notable achievements include pioneering studies on the 'gaze cascade effect' and developing the ePlegona game system for studying team flow. Awards include the Red Dot Design Concept Award (2024) and grants from JST CREST and MEXT gCOE programs.

His research bridges cognitive and neuroscience disciplines, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human perception and decision-making. Current projects explore implicit brain functions, social communication, and the neural correlates of emotional decisions. Shimojo also contributes to science communication through his column in Asahi Shimbun and public outreach via YouTube demonstrations of visual illusions.