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David McCormick, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience
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About

Titles

Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience

Biography

After serving thirty years as faculty at the Yale School of Medicine, David McCormick brought his research laboratory to the University of Oregon, where he is currently Director of the Institute for Neuroscience and Professor of Biology.

Interests: Cellular mechanisms by which the cerebral cortex operates, both normally and abnormally, using a variety of electrophysiological and advanced imaging techniques.

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

PhD
Stanford University (1983)
BA
Purdue University, Mathematics (1979)
BS
Purdue University, Psychology (1979)

Research

Overview

Optimal State for Neural and Behavioral Performance

One of the first things we noticed was that the ability of animals to perform the task varied rapidly (seconds) and continuously, even though the animals were clearly awake the entire time. We imagine this is similar to either “seminar behavior” where your attention on the lecture waxes and wanes periodically, or “drowsy driving”, where you periodically lose focus on the task at hand. By measuring brain state electrically, and measuring the diameter of the pupil, we found that there is an optimal state for performance of the task, and that this optimal state occurred when the animal is “in the zone”, meaning exhibiting neither too little nor too much arousal. We are now examining the precise neural circuits (e.g. acetylcholine and norepinephrine) that may be responsible for the determination of this optimal state for performance.

Cortical Coding Efficiency:

Stimulation of the cortex with natural stimuli, particularly in the waking, attentive state, gives rise to highly efficient and reliable neuronal responses. We are examining the mechanisms underlying this efficiency and reliability.

Neural Circuits of Brain Processing:

By examining how neurons operate electically, and how they talk to each other chemically, we are uncovering the neural circuits responsible for behavior. We are particularly interested in the neural circuits that transforms a sensory input into a decision that is then implemented in an action. We find great hope that revealing these neural circuits will increase our understanding of not only the ordered, but also the disordered, human brain.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Attention; Axons; Brain; Memory; Neurobiology; Neurosciences; Synapses

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of David McCormick's published research.

Publications

2024

2022

2021

2020

2019

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • honor

    Jacob Javits Investigator Award (2nd time), NIH

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    Member

  • honor

    Fellow

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    Fellow

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    Dorys McConnel Duberg Chair

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