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About

Masato Hirano investigates the neural and biomechanical underpinnings of motor expertise, with a particular focus on how sensory experiences can break through performance plateaus in highly trained individuals. His research centers on the intersection of sensorimotor learning, hand dexterity, and neurorehabilitation, using expert pianists as a model system to understand skill acquisition and refinement. In his most cited work (2025, 23 citations), Hirano demonstrated that exposing expert pianists to novel sensory feedback via a hand exoskeleton can surmount the "ceiling effect"—a phenomenon where motor performance stagnates despite extensive practice. This finding challenges long-held assumptions about the limits of expertise and opens new avenues for enhancing skill in athletes and musicians. His earlier studies (2021, 10 citations; 2022, 8 citations) revealed how corticomuscular and biomechanical systems adapt with expertise, and showed that passive somatosensory training can improve piano performance across age groups. By combining rigorous experimental design with real-world applications, Hirano’s work bridges basic motor control science and practical training interventions, offering transformative insights for both rehabilitation and elite performance.