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Stephen Lisberger

George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Neurobiology
Neurobiology
Box 3209, Durham, NC 27710
Bryan Research Building, 311 Research Drive Room 327D, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


We investigate how the brain learns motor skills, and how we use what we see to guide how we move. Our approaches involve studies of eye movements using behavior, neural recordings, and computational analysis. Our work is done on behaving non-human primates.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


George Barth Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Neurobiology · 2012 - Present Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments
Professor of Neurobiology · 2012 - Present Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments
Chair in the Department of Neurobiology · 2012 - Present Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences · 2016 - Present Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published April 18, 2025
Greater Understanding of Brain Disorders with AI
Published September 12, 2022
Unlocking the Secrets of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published May 3, 2022
Three Faculty Elected to National Academy of Sciences

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Recent Publications


A deep learning strategy to identify cell types across species from high-density extracellular recordings.

Journal Article Cell · April 17, 2025 High-density probes allow electrophysiological recordings from many neurons simultaneously across entire brain circuits but fail to reveal cell type. Here, we develop a strategy to identify cell types from extracellular recordings in awake animals and reve ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Neural circuit mechanisms to transform cerebellar population dynamics for motor control in monkeys.

Journal Article bioRxiv · February 22, 2025 We exploit identification of neuron types during extracellular recording to demonstrate how the cerebellar cortex's well-established architecture transforms inputs into outputs. During smooth pursuit eye movements, the floccular complex performs distinct i ... Full text Link to item Cite

Strategies to decipher neuron identity from extracellular recordings in the cerebellum of behaving non-human primates.

Journal Article bioRxiv · January 29, 2025 Identification of neuron type is critical to understand computation in neural circuits through extracellular recordings in awake, behaving animal subjects. Yet, modern recording probes have limited power to resolve neuron type. Here, we leverage the well-c ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Neurobiology Training Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2024 - 2029

Neural mechanisms of visual-motor control in smooth pursuit eye movement

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Eye Institute · 2023 - 2028

Neural mechanisms of visuomotor transformations in larval zebrafish

FellowshipCo-Sponsor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Washington · 1976 Ph.D.