The Department of Physiology within the College of Basic Medical Sciences at Jilin University was formed in 1954 through the merger of the physiology departments from the First and Third Military Medical Universities of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). In 1958, it transitioned from military to civilian administration along with the university. The Department of Physiology of the PLA First Military Medical University was established in 1950, with Professor Luo-ying Li serving as the head of the physiology section. The Department of Physiology of the PLA Third Military Medical University was established in May 1949, with Comrade Wen-hua Li as its initial head. Between 1963 and 1977, the Biophysics Department existed as a specialized research group within the Department of Physiology. This group laid the foundation for what would later become the Neurophysiology Research Laboratory. During this period, the primary research focus was on the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia. In 1979, the Neurophysiology Research Laboratory was officially established with approval from the Ministry of Health, comprising seven permanent research staff. Subsequently, to meet research needs, the Auditory Research Group was established (1978) followed by the Cardiovascular Physiology Research Group (1987). With the following two decades rapid development in disciplinary construction, department of physiology was authorized to confer Master's degrees among the first disciplines in China in 1978. It became authorized to confer Doctoral degrees in 1986 (the third batch nationally) and was approved as a Postdoctoral Research Mobile Station in 1991. Further accolades and developments include: being rated as a Jilin Province Key Discipline in 2003; designation as the Jilin Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology in 2004; recognition as a Grade II Physiology Laboratory by the Jilin Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2002; approval as a National Continuing Education Training Unit for Neurobiology in 2003; and the Physiology course being rated as a Jilin Province High-Quality Course in 2014.

        Currently, the main research directions of the Department of Physiology include: neural circuit mechanisms of emotion, central mechanisms of sleep-wake regulation, the habenula's role in higher brain functions and related disorders, stress and drug addiction, as well as the effects and mechanisms of bioactive substances on cardiomyocytes. The department currently has 11 faculty members, including: 3 Professors, 5 Associate Professors, 3 Lecturers, and among them, there are 2 Doctoral Advisors and 7 Master's Advisors.