Greg D. Field | Scholars@Duke

Greg D. Field
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology

My laboratory studies how the retina processes visual scenes and transmits this information to the brain. We use multi-electrode arrays to record the activity of hundreds of retina neurons simultaneously in conjunction with transgenic mouse lines and chemogenetics to manipulate neural circuit function. We are interested in three major areas. First, we work to understand how neurons in the retina are functionally connected. Second we are studying how light-adaptation and circadian rhythms alter visual processing in the retina. Finally, we are working to understand the mechanisms of retinal degenerative conditions and we are investigating potential treatments in animal models.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor of Neurobiology, Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments 2015
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers 2015

Contact Information

Box 3209, Durham, NC 27710
Bryan Research Building, 311 Research Drive Room 427D, Durham, NC 27710
field@neuro.duke.edu (919) 681-7503

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of Washington 2004
Duke Appointment History
- Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering 2016 - 2019
Recognition
In the News
- SEP 15, 2020
  
  Real Neurons are Noisy. Can Neural Implants Figure That Out?
- SEP 13, 2018
  
  Eyes Have a Natural Version of Night Vision
Expertise
Subject Headings
Research
Selected Grants
- Neurobiology Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2024
- Elucidating novel features of visual processing and physiological connectivity from retina to primary visual cortex awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2024
- Receptive field coordination across mosaics of diverse retinal ganglion cell types in the mammalian retina awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2024
- In Vivo Modeling of Mitochondrial Complex I Deficiency in Retinal Ganglion Cells awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2023
- Analyses of retinal circuits after rod rescue in a mouse model of human blindness awarded by University of Southern California 2016 - 2021
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 2005 - 2021
- Revealing neural computations through combined optical and electrical recordings awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2021
- The structure and significance of correlated activity among retinal ganglion cells awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2020
- The Impact of Dopamine and Melatonin on light and circadian dependent response in the retina awarded by Ruth K. Broad Biomedical Research Foundation 2017 - 2019
- Light Adaptation and Circadian Modulation of Parallel Processing in Retina awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2019
- Basic predoctoral training in neuroscience awarded by National Institutes of Health 1992 - 2018
- Mapping the Functional Connectivity of the Mammalian Retina awarded by Whitehall Foundation, Inc. 2015 - 2017
- Neurochemical Pathyways in the Inner Retina awarded by University of California - Los Angeles 2014 - 2016
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Ruda, Kiersten, Joel Zylberberg, and Greg D. Field. “Ignoring correlated activity causes a failure of retinal population codes.” Nat Commun 11, no. 1 (September 14, 2020): 4605. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18436-2.
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  - Cafaro, Jon, Joel Zylberberg, and Greg D. Field. “Global Motion Processing by Populations of Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells.” J Neurosci 40, no. 30 (July 22, 2020): 5807–19. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0564-20.2020.
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  - Wang, Tian, Johan Pahlberg, Jon Cafaro, Rikard Frederiksen, A. J. Cooper, Alapakkam P. Sampath, Greg D. Field, and Jeannie Chen. “Activation of Rod Input in a Model of Retinal Degeneration Reverses Retinal Remodeling and Induces Formation of Functional Synapses and Recovery of Visual Signaling in the Adult Retina.” J Neurosci 39, no. 34 (August 21, 2019): 6798–6810. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2902-18.2019.
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  - Kling, A., G. D. Field, D. H. Brainard, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Probing Computation in the Primate Visual System at Single-Cone Resolution.” Annu Rev Neurosci 42 (July 8, 2019): 169–86. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-070918-050233.
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  - Roy, Suva, and Greg D. Field. “Dopaminergic modulation of retinal processing from starlight to sunlight.” J Pharmacol Sci 140, no. 1 (May 2019): 86–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphs.2019.03.006.
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  - Grove, James C. R., Arlene A. Hirano, Janira de Los Santos, Cyrus F. McHugh, Shashvat Purohit, Greg D. Field, Nicholas C. Brecha, and Steven Barnes. “Novel hybrid action of GABA mediates inhibitory feedback in the mammalian retina.” Plos Biol 17, no. 4 (April 2019): e3000200. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000200.
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  - Field, Greg D., Valerie Uzzell, E. J. Chichilnisky, and Fred Rieke. “Temporal resolution of single-photon responses in primate rod photoreceptors and limits imposed by cellular noise.” J Neurophysiol 121, no. 1 (January 1, 2019): 255–68. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00683.2018.
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  - Johnson, Elizabeth N., Teleza Westbrook, Rod Shayesteh, Emily L. Chen, Joseph W. Schumacher, David Fitzpatrick, and Greg D. Field. “Distribution and diversity of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in tree shrew.” The Journal of Comparative Neurology 527, no. 1 (January 2019): 328–44. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.24377.
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  - Ravi, Sneha, Daniel Ahn, Martin Greschner, E. J. Chichilnisky, and Greg D. Field. “Pathway-Specific Asymmetries between ON and OFF Visual Signals.” J Neurosci 38, no. 45 (November 7, 2018): 9728–40. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2008-18.2018.
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  - Yao, Xiaoyang, Jon Cafaro, Amanda J. McLaughlin, Friso R. Postma, David L. Paul, Gautam Awatramani, and Greg D. Field. “Gap Junctions Contribute to Differential Light Adaptation across Direction-Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells.” Neuron 100, no. 1 (October 10, 2018): 216-228.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2018.08.021.
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  - Ray, Thomas A., Suva Roy, Christopher Kozlowski, Jingjing Wang, Jon Cafaro, Samuel W. Hulbert, Christopher V. Wright, Greg D. Field, and Jeremy N. Kay. “Formation of retinal direction-selective circuitry initiated by starburst amacrine cell homotypic contact.” Elife 7 (April 3, 2018). https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.34241.
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  - Solomon, Alexander M., Teleza Westbrook, Greg D. Field, and Aaron W. McGee. “Nogo receptor 1 is expressed by nearly all retinal ganglion cells.” Plos One 13, no. 5 (2018): e0196565. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196565.
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  - Sethuramanujam, Santhosh, Xiaoyang Yao, Geoff deRosenroll, Kevin L. Briggman, Greg D. Field, and Gautam B. Awatramani. “"Silent" NMDA Synapses Enhance Motion Sensitivity in a Mature Retinal Circuit.” Neuron 96, no. 5 (December 6, 2017): 1099-1111.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.058.
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  - Yu, Wan-Qing, Norberto M. Grzywacz, Eun-Jin Lee, and Greg D. Field. “Cell type-specific changes in retinal ganglion cell function induced by rod death and cone reorganization in rats.” J Neurophysiol 118, no. 1 (July 1, 2017): 434–54. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00826.2016.
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  - Field, Greg D., and Alapakkam P. Sampath. “Behavioural and physiological limits to vision in mammals.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 372, no. 1717 (April 2017). https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0072.
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  - Greschner, Martin, Alexander K. Heitman, Greg D. Field, Peter H. Li, Daniel Ahn, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Identification of a Retinal Circuit for Recurrent Suppression Using Indirect Electrical Imaging.” Curr Biol 26, no. 15 (August 8, 2016): 1935–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.05.051.
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  - Freeman, Jeremy, Greg D. Field, Peter H. Li, Martin Greschner, Deborah E. Gunning, Keith Mathieson, Alexander Sher, et al. “Mapping nonlinear receptive field structure in primate retina at single cone resolution.” Elife 4 (October 30, 2015). https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05241.
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  - Li, Peter H., Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Max Schiff, Alexander Sher, Daniel Ahn, Greg D. Field, Martin Greschner, Edward M. Callaway, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Anatomical identification of extracellularly recorded cells in large-scale multielectrode recordings.” J Neurosci 35, no. 11 (March 18, 2015): 4663–75. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3675-14.2015.
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  - Li, P. H., G. D. Field, M. Greschner, D. Ahn, D. E. Gunning, K. Mathieson, A. Sher, A. M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Retinal representation of the elementary visual signal.” Neuron 82, no. 2 (April 16, 2014): 500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.04.012.
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  - Greschner, Martin, Greg D. Field, Peter H. Li, Max L. Schiff, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Daniel Ahn, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “A polyaxonal amacrine cell population in the primate retina.” J Neurosci 34, no. 10 (March 5, 2014): 3597–3606. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3359-13.2014.
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  - Li, Peter H., Greg D. Field, Martin Greschner, Daniel Ahn, Deborah E. Gunning, Keith Mathieson, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Retinal representation of the elementary visual signal.” Neuron 81, no. 1 (January 8, 2014): 130–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2013.10.043.
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  - Sadeghi, K., J. L. Gauthier, G. D. Field, M. Greschner, M. Agne, E. J. Chichilnisky, and L. Paninski. “Monte Carlo methods for localization of cones given multielectrode retinal ganglion cell recordings.” Network 24, no. 1 (2013): 27–51. https://doi.org/10.3109/0954898X.2012.740140.
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  - Doi, Eizaburo, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Greg D. Field, Jonathon Shlens, Alexander Sher, Martin Greschner, Timothy A. Machado, et al. “Efficient coding of spatial information in the primate retina.” J Neurosci 32, no. 46 (November 14, 2012): 16256–64. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4036-12.2012.
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  - Greschner, Martin, Jonathon Shlens, Constantina Bakolitsa, Greg D. Field, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Lauren H. Jepson, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Correlated firing among major ganglion cell types in primate retina.” J Physiol 589, no. Pt 1 (January 1, 2011): 75–86. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2010.193888.
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  - Conway, B. R., S. Chatterjee, G. D. Field, G. D. Horwitz, E. N. Johnson, K. Koida, and K. Mancuso. “Advances in color science: From retina to behavior (The Journal of Neuroscience (2010) (14955-14963)).” Journal of Neuroscience 30, no. 49 (December 8, 2010).
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  - Conway, Bevil R., Soumya Chatterjee, Greg D. Field, Gregory D. Horwitz, Elizabeth N. Johnson, Kowa Koida, and Katherine Mancuso. “Advances in Color Science: From Retina to Behavior (vol 30, pg 14955, 2010).” Journal of Neuroscience 30, no. 49 (December 8, 2010).
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  - Conway, Bevil R., Soumya Chatterjee, Greg D. Field, Gregory D. Horwitz, Elizabeth N. Johnson, Kowa Koida, and Katherine Mancuso. “Advances in color science: from retina to behavior.” J Neurosci 30, no. 45 (November 10, 2010): 14955–63. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4348-10.2010.
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  - Field, Greg D., Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Alexander Sher, Martin Greschner, Timothy A. Machado, Lauren H. Jepson, Jonathon Shlens, et al. “Functional connectivity in the retina at the resolution of photoreceptors.” Nature 467, no. 7316 (October 7, 2010): 673–77. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09424.
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  - Okawa, Haruhisa, K Joshua Miyagishima, A Cyrus Arman, James B. Hurley, Greg D. Field, and Alapakkam P. Sampath. “Optimal processing of photoreceptor signals is required to maximize behavioural sensitivity.” J Physiol 588, no. Pt 11 (June 1, 2010): 1947–60. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2010.188573.
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  - Field, Greg D., Martin Greschner, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Carolina Rangel, Jonathon Shlens, Alexander Sher, David W. Marshak, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “High-sensitivity rod photoreceptor input to the blue-yellow color opponent pathway in macaque retina.” Nat Neurosci 12, no. 9 (September 2009): 1159–64. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2353.
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  - Shlens, Jonathon, Greg D. Field, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Martin Greschner, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “The structure of large-scale synchronized firing in primate retina.” J Neurosci 29, no. 15 (April 15, 2009): 5022–31. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5187-08.2009.
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  - Gauthier, Jeffrey L., Greg D. Field, Alexander Sher, Jonathon Shlens, Martin Greschner, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Uniform signal redundancy of parasol and midget ganglion cells in primate retina.” J Neurosci 29, no. 14 (April 8, 2009): 4675–80. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5294-08.2009.
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  - Gauthier, Jeffrey L., Greg D. Field, Alexander Sher, Martin Greschner, Jonathon Shlens, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Receptive fields in primate retina are coordinated to sample visual space more uniformly.” Plos Biol 7, no. 4 (April 7, 2009): e1000063. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1000063.
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  - Shlens, J., G. D. Field, J. L. Gauthier, M. I. Grivich, D. Petrusca, A. Sher, A. M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “The structure of multi-neuron firing patterns in primate retina (Journal of Neuroscience (August 9, 2006) (8254-8266)).” Journal of Neuroscience 28, no. 5 (January 30, 2008).
  - Shlens, Jonathon, Greg D. Field, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Mathew I. Grivich, Dumitru Petrusca, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “The structure of multi-neuron firing patterns in primate retina (vol 26, pg 8254, 2006).” Journal of Neuroscience 28, no. 5 (January 30, 2008).
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  - Field, Greg D., Alexander Sher, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Martin Greschner, Jonathon Shlens, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Spatial properties and functional organization of small bistratified ganglion cells in primate retina.” J Neurosci 27, no. 48 (November 28, 2007): 13261–72. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3437-07.2007.
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  - Petrusca, Dumitru, Matthew I. Grivich, Alexander Sher, Greg D. Field, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Martin Greschner, Jonathon Shlens, E. J. Chichilnisky, and Alan M. Litke. “Identification and characterization of a Y-like primate retinal ganglion cell type.” J Neurosci 27, no. 41 (October 10, 2007): 11019–27. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2836-07.2007.
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  - Field, G. D., and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Information processing in the primate retina: circuitry and coding.” Annu Rev Neurosci 30 (2007): 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.neuro.30.051606.094252.
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  - Shlens, Jonathon, Greg D. Field, Jeffrey L. Gauthier, Matthew I. Grivich, Dumitru Petrusca, Alexander Sher, Alan M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “The structure of multi-neuron firing patterns in primate retina.” J Neurosci 26, no. 32 (August 9, 2006): 8254–66. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1282-06.2006.
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  - Field, Greg D., Alapakkam P. Sampath, and Fred Rieke. “Retinal processing near absolute threshold: from behavior to mechanism.” Annu Rev Physiol 67 (2005): 491–514. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.physiol.67.031103.151256.
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  - Field, Greg D., and Fred Rieke. “Mechanisms regulating variability of the single photon responses of mammalian rod photoreceptors.” Neuron 35, no. 4 (August 15, 2002): 733–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00822-x.
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  - Field, Greg D., and Fred Rieke. “Nonlinear signal transfer from mouse rods to bipolar cells and implications for visual sensitivity.” Neuron 34, no. 5 (May 30, 2002): 773–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00700-6.
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- Conference Papers
  - Field, Greg D. “Circuitry and visual processing in the retinae of mice and men.” In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Vol. 60. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC, 2019.
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  - Pahlberg, Johan, Tian Wang, Jon Cafaro, Greg Darian Field, Alapakkam P. Sampath, and Jeannie Chen. “Analyses Of Retinal Circuits After Rod Rescue In A Mouse Model Of Human Blindness.” In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Vol. 57. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC, 2016.
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  - Field, G. D., J. L. Gauthier, M. Greschner, A. Sher, L. Jepson, A. M. Litke, and E. J. Chichilnisky. “Retinal Ganglion Cell Nonlinear Subunit Structure at Single-Cone Resolution.” In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Vol. 51. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC, 2010.
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  - Field, G. D., and F. Rieke. “Reproducibility of the single photon response in mammalian photoreceptors.” In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 43:U1035–U1035. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC, 2002.
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  - Field, G. D., E. J. Chichilnisky, and F. Rieke. “Signal and noise in mammalian rods and the implications for retinal processing.” In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 42:S370–S370. ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC, 2001.
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Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
Advising & Mentoring
- I primarily mentor Ph.D. candidates in the Neurobiology Graduate Program. I provide training opportunities for postdoctoral fellows. I also mentor exceptionally talented undergraduate neuroscience majors looking for research opportunities in neurobiology, vision science, or retinal physiology. I am also a member of the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Graduate Training Program.
Available to mentor:
- PhD
- Post-Doc
- Undergraduate
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Outreach & Engaged Scholarship
- Bass Connections Faculty Team Member. Summer Neuroscience Program Mentor. 2018 2018

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

In the News

Subject Headings

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Conference Papers

Recent Courses

Advising & Mentoring

Available to mentor:

Outreach & Engaged Scholarship