His research focuses on the organization and evolution of neuronal circuits in teleost fishes, the evolution of neuronal circuits for bird song learning in parrots and songbirds and how evolution modifies the processes of brain development to generate a broad diversity of adult brains.
Abe became notable for his taxonomic studies on the pufferfish (Tetraodontidae, Teleostei) from East Asia, in particalur the genus Takifugu which he first described in 1949.