Sameer A. Sheth, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, The Gordon and Mary Cain Pediatric Foundation Research Laboratories
Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine
Cullen Foundation Endowed Chair, Baylor College of Medicine
McNair Scholar, Baylor College of Medicine
Adjunct Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University
Research Focus: Deep brain stimulation, epilepsy, neuropsychiatric disorders
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 neurological and psychiatric disorders.
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.
In parallel, we develop and refine neuromodulatory treatments for refractory neurological and psychiatric disorders such as epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and many others. These disorders often arise from dysfunction in the same circuits mentioned above.
These two efforts advance synergistically, with a constant back-and-forth flow of ideas between basic neuroscience and clinical translation. Because of the multi-disciplinary nature of this work, the lab interacts closely with many other disciplines, including Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Neurology, Computational Science, Neuro-Engineering, and others.
Research Projects
- Investigating DBS for Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Investigating the Neural Mechanisms Underlying Ad-Hoc Self-Programmability
- Investigating the Physiology of Controlled Decision-Making in Human Prefrontal Cortex
- Investigating Cortical and Basal Ganglia Networks Involved in Disorders of Mental Health
- Developing Novel Targets and Indications for Neuromodulation