Overview
We study circuits for cognition. Using a combination of neurophysiology and biomedical engineering, we focus on the interaction between brain areas during visual perception, decision-making, and motor planning. Specific projects include the role of frontal cortex in metacognition, the role of cerebellar-frontal circuits in action timing, the neural basis of "good enough" decision-making (satisficing), and the neural mechanisms of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
·
2023 - Present
Biomedical Engineering,
Pratt School of Engineering
Director of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
·
2025 - Present
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences,
University Institutes and Centers
Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
·
2024 - Present
Psychology & Neuroscience,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor in Neurobiology
·
2025 - Present
Neurobiology,
Basic Science Departments
Investigator in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
·
2010 - Present
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences,
University Institutes and Centers
Member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience
·
2010 - Present
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience,
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society
·
2017 - Present
Duke Science & Society,
University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Recent Publications
Retrograde optogenetics reveals sensorimotor convergence within a corticotectal pathway of non-human primates.
Journal Article Current biology : CB · January 2026 Understanding how the cerebral cortex communicates with subcortical areas to drive behavior remains a central question in system neuroscience. One key unresolved issue is whether prefrontal cortical outputs to motor-related subcortical regions carry predom ... Full text CiteProjection Targeting with Phototagging to Study the Structure and Function of Retinal Ganglion Cells.
Journal Article bioRxiv · June 28, 2025 UNLABELLED: Visual information from the retina is sent to diverse targets throughout the brain by different retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Much of our knowledge about the different RGC types and how they are routed to these brain targets is based on mice, ... Full text Link to item CiteSupracortical Microstimulation: Advances in Microelectrode Design and In Vivo Validation.
Journal Article Annual review of biomedical engineering · May 2025 Electrical stimulation of the brain is being developed as a treatment for an increasing number of neurological disorders. Technologies for delivering electrical stimulation are advancing rapidly and vary in specificity, coverage, and invasiveness. Supracor ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Neurobiology Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2024 - 2029Duke Research in Engineering Program (DukeREP) 2026-2028
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Burroughs Wellcome Fund · 2025 - 2028Visual signaling from retina to superior colliculus
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of California - Los Angeles · 2023 - 2028View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ·
1995
Ph.D.