Ask Me About My Research
Sameer Sheth, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor and vice-chair of clinical research in the department neurosurgery is joined by a special guest to demonstrate the importance of scientists and researchers talking with others about their work.
Baylor St. Luke’s adopts new Parkinson’s disease treatment
New technology in deep brain stimulation is making treatment of Parkinson’s disease more precise and easier to maintain for the millions of people living with the debilitating disease
About the Lab
The Functional and Cognitive Neurophysiology laboratory, led by Dr. Sameer Sheth, focuses on the study of human decision-making and cognition, as well as on the development of novel therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders. To accomplish these goals, we take a two-fold approach. First, we work with neurosurgical patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS), epilepsy monitoring, and other procedures that require the placement of intracranial electrodes. We use single-neuron and field potential recordings as well as stimulation to understand the circuitry underlying complex cognitive functions such as controlled decision-making, memory formation, and emotional regulation. Second, we develop and refine neuromodulatory treatments for refractory neurological and psychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and many others. These disorders often arise from dysfunction in the same circuits mentioned above. Thus the two efforts advance synergistically, with a constant back-and-forth flow of ideas. Because of the multi-disciplinary nature of this work, the lab interacts closely with many other disciplines, including Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Neurology, Computational Science, Engineering, and others.
Research Projects
- Investigating the physiology of human decision-making in prefrontal cortex
- Investigating cortical and basal ganglia networks involved in disorders of mental health
- Developing novel targets and indications for neuromodulation
- Investigating the coupling between neuronal activity and hemodynamics in human cortex
