Michael Merzenich, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Otolaryngology
School of Medicine
Michael.Merzenich@ucs.eu 415-476-0490
Our laboratory is principally interested in 1) defining the neural bases of learning, recognition and memory; 2) defining mechanisms underlying the origins of functional brain illnesses and disabilities; and 3) developing training strategies for remediating learning-disabled and movement-disabled adults and children.
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Cortical plasticity studies are conducted within somatosensory, auditory, and motor forebrain systems in rodent, primate and human models. Electrophysiological studies employ the derivation of highly detailed microelectrode neuron response maps in sensory cortical areas and subcortical nuclei, and detailed microstimulation maps in motor cortex. Acute and chronic quantitative single and multiple-unit recording experiments are conducted. Many studies are undertaken in behaviorally trained animals. Human learning experiments are conducted using psychophysical procedures and magnetoencephalographic (MSI) and functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) imaging). Pragmatic human studies involve computer engineering and AV development, as well as electrophysiological and psychophysical experiments conducted in patient models.
Cortical representations have been shown to be substantially functionally remodeled following new behavioral experiences or training in animal models in which limited sectors of the sensory epithelium and/or specific movements are differentially engaged in new behavioral tasks. Studies of this "representational plasticity" in the adult nervous system have revealed many facets of the self-organizing processes of the brain that account for the progressive differentiation of behavior in child development, and that account for adult learning. In current experiments: 1) We are relating specific experience-driven changes in neuronal responses in the cortex to behaviorally measured gains in skills acquired with practice in the same animal(s). 2) We are constructing computational models of the dynamic, self-organizing cortical machinery. 3) We are studying developmental plasticity in the auditory system relevant to understanding the development of fundamental human capacities. 4) We are modelling the contributions of learning to the genesis of learning disabilities, and to the emergence of occupationally-induced movement disabilities and pain syndromes. 5) We are studying some practical implications of cortical representational plasticity mechanisms for designing remedial therapies for brain injury patients, and for learning-disabled and movement-disabled human populations.
Websites
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- "On the brain" blog (merzenich.positscience.com)
Grants and Projects
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- Variation as a Neural Code, NIH, 2006-2012
- Brain Plasticity Based Training for Focal Dystonia, NIH, 2005-2008
- Cortical Plasticity Systems, NIH, 1997-2008
- Brain-Plasticity Based Training for Schizophrenia, NIH, 2005-2007
- Brain Plasticity Rehabilitation of Visual Cognition, NIH, 2005-2006
- Auditory and Somatosensory Cortex, NIH, 1978-2006
- Design of Pediatric Cochlear Implants, NIH/NIDCD, 1990-1995
- Sensory Disorders and Language Study Section, NIH, 1985-1991
- Pediatric Auditory Prosthesis Implants, NIH/NINDS, 1987-1990
- Pediatric Auditory Prosthesis Implants, NIH/NIDCD, 1987-1990
- Scala Tympani Electrode Arrays, NIH/NINDS, 1983-1986
Publications (88)
Top publication keywords:
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain StemElectrophysiologyNoiseEvoked Potentials, AuditoryAuditory PerceptionHearingBrain MappingOtolaryngologyAuditory CortexSomatosensory CortexAcoustic StimulationLearningTinnitusSoundNeuronal Plasticity
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The Real-World Usability, Feasibility, and Performance Distributions of Deploying a Digital Toolbox of Computerized Assessments to Remotely Evaluate Brain Health: Development and Usability Study.
JMIR formative research 2024 Attarha M, Mahncke H, Merzenich M -
A randomized clinical trial of plasticity-based cognitive training in mild traumatic brain injury.
Brain : a journal of neurology 2021 Mahncke HW, DeGutis J, Levin H, Newsome MR, Bell MD, Grills C, French LM, Sullivan KW, Kim SJ, Rose A, Stasio C, Merzenich MM -
Online Social Cognition Training in Schizophrenia: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Multi-Site Clinical Trial.
Schizophrenia bulletin 2021 Nahum M, Lee H, Fisher M, Green MF, Hooker CI, Ventura J, Jordan JT, Rose A, Kim SJ, Haut KM, Merzenich MM, Vinogradov S -
Environmental noise degrades hippocampus-related learning and memory.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2020 Zhang Y, Zhu M, Sun Y, Tang B, Zhang G, An P, Cheng Y, Shan Y, Merzenich MM, Zhou X -
Alertness Training Improves Spatial Bias and Functional Ability in Spatial Neglect.
Annals of neurology 2020 Van Vleet T, Bonato P, Fabara E, Dabit S, Kim SJ, Chiu C, Bisogno AL, Merzenich M, Corbetta M, DeGutis J
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Home-Based, Adaptive Cognitive Training for Cognitively Normal Older adults: Initial Efficacy Trial.
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 2020 Lee HK, Kent JD, Wendel C, Wolinsky FD, Foster ED, Merzenich MM, Voss MW -
Reversal of Age-Related Changes in Cortical Sound-Azimuth Selectivity with Training.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) 2020 Cheng Y, Zhang Y, Wang F, Jia G, Zhou J, Shan Y, Sun X, Yu L, Merzenich MM, Recanzone GH, Yang L, Zhou X -
Optimizing brain performance: Identifying mechanisms of adaptive neurobiological plasticity.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2019 Lambert K, Eisch AJ, Galea LAM, Kempermann G, Merzenich M -
Auditory Training Reverses Lead (Pb)-Toxicity-Induced Changes in Sound-Azimuth Selectivity of Cortical Neurons.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) 2019 Liu X, Wei F, Cheng Y, Zhang Y, Jia G, Zhou J, Zhu M, Shan Y, Sun X, Yu L, Merzenich MM, Lurie DI, Zheng Q, Zhou X -
No Evidence of Broadband Noise Having Any Harmful Effect on Hearing-Reply.
JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery 2019 Attarha M, Bigelow J, Merzenich MM -
Biases in processing of mood-congruent facial expressions in depression.
Psychiatry research 2019 Van Vleet T, Stark-Inbar A, Merzenich MM, Jordan JT, Wallace DL, Lee MB, Dawes HE, Chang EF, Nahum M -
Unintended Consequences of White Noise Therapy for Tinnitus-Otolaryngology's Cobra Effect: A Review.
JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery 2018 Attarha M, Bigelow J, Merzenich MM -
Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation in Intensive Care Unit Survivors: Returning to Everyday Tasks Using Rehabilitation Networks-Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation Pilot Investigation.
Annals of the American Thoracic Society 2018 Wilson JE, Collar EM, Kiehl AL, Lee H, Merzenich M, Ely EW, Jackson J -
Positive impacts of early auditory training on cortical processing at an older age.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2017 Cheng Y, Jia G, Zhang Y, Hao H, Shan Y, Yu L, Sun X, Zheng Q, Kraus N, Merzenich MM, Zhou X -
Immediate Mood Scaler: Tracking Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety Using a Novel Mobile Mood Scale.
JMIR mHealth and uHealth 2017 Nahum M, Van Vleet TM, Sohal VS, Mirzabekov JJ, Rao VR, Wallace DL, Lee MB, Dawes H, Stark-Inbar A, Jordan JT, Biagianti B, Merzenich M, Chang EF -
Targeting alertness to improve cognition in older adults: A preliminary report of benefits in executive function and skill acquisition.
Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior 2016 Van Vleet TM, DeGutis JM, Merzenich MM, Simpson GV, Zomet A, Dabit S -
Randomized controlled trial of computer-based treatment of social cognition in schizophrenia: the TRuSST trial protocol.
BMC psychiatry 2015 Rose A, Vinogradov S, Fisher M, Green MF, Ventura J, Hooker C, Merzenich M, Nahum M -
Behavioral training reverses global cortical network dysfunction induced by perinatal antidepressant exposure.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2015 Zhou X, Lu JY, Darling RD, Simpson KL, Zhu X, Wang F, Yu L, Sun X, Merzenich MM, Lin RC -
Early UCSF contributions to the development of multiple-channel cochlear implants.
Hearing research 2015 Merzenich MM -
Adaptive training diminishes distractibility in aging across species.
Neuron 2014 Mishra J, de Villers-Sidani E, Merzenich M, Gazzaley A -
Perceptual Training Restores Impaired Cortical Temporal Processing Due to Lead Exposure.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) 2014 Zhu X, Liu X, Wei F, Wang F, Merzenich MM, Schreiner CE, Sun X, Zhou X -
Brain plasticity-based therapeutics.
Frontiers in human neuroscience 2014 Merzenich MM, Van Vleet TM, Nahum M -
Environmental acoustic enrichment promotes recovery from developmentally degraded auditory cortical processing.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 2014 Zhu X, Wang F, Hu H, Sun X, Kilgard MP, Merzenich MM, Zhou X -
Accessible online neuroplasticity-targeted training for children with ADHD.
Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health 2013 Mishra J, Merzenich MM, Sagar R -
Manipulation of BDNF signaling modifies the experience-dependent plasticity induced by pure tone exposure during the critical period in the primary auditory cortex.
PloS one 2013 Anomal R, de Villers-Sidani E, Merzenich MM, Panizzutti R -
Neocortical correlates of vibrotactile detection in humans.
Journal of cognitive neuroscience 2013 Moore CI, Crosier E, Greve DN, Savoy R, Merzenich MM, Dale AM -
Neuroplasticity: introduction.
Progress in brain research 2013 Merzenich MM, Nahum M, Van Vleet TM -
Principles of neuroplasticity-based rehabilitation.
Progress in brain research 2013 Nahum M, Lee H, Merzenich MM -
Long-term modification of cortical synapses improves sensory perception.
Nature neuroscience 2012 Froemke RC, Carcea I, Barker AJ, Yuan K, Seybold BA, Martins AR, Zaika N, Bernstein H, Wachs M, Levis PA, Polley DB, Merzenich MM, Schreiner CE -
High-density multielectrode array with independently maneuverable electrodes and silicone oil fluid isolation system for chronic recording from macaque monkey.
Journal of neuroscience methods 2012 Miyakawa N, Katsumata N, Blake DT, Merzenich MM, Tanifuji M -
Environmental noise exposure degrades normal listening processes.
Nature communications 2012 Zhou X, Merzenich MM -
The fantastic plastic brain.
Advances in mind-body medicine 2012 Bruno R, Merzenich M, Nudo R -
Brains on video games.
Nature reviews. Neuroscience 2011 Bavelier D, Green CS, Han DH, Renshaw PF, Merzenich MM, Gentile DA -
Perinatal antidepressant exposure alters cortical network function in rodents.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2011 Simpson KL, Weaver KJ, de Villers-Sidani E, Lu JY, Cai Z, Pang Y, Rodriguez-Porcel F, Paul IA, Merzenich M, Lin RC -
Natural restoration of critical period plasticity in the juvenile and adult primary auditory cortex.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 2011 Zhou X, Panizzutti R, de Villers-Sidani E, Madeira C, Merzenich MM -
Lifelong plasticity in the rat auditory cortex: basic mechanisms and role of sensory experience.
Progress in brain research 2011 de Villers-Sidani E, Merzenich MM -
Perinatal asphyxia affects rat auditory processing: implications for auditory perceptual impairments in neurodevelopmental disorders.
PloS one 2010 Strata F, Stoianov IP, de Villers-Sidani E, Bonham B, Martone T, Kenet T, Chang EF, Vincenti V, Merzenich MM -
Specific cognitive training normalizes auditory sensory gating in schizophrenia: a randomized trial.
Biological psychiatry 2010 Popov T, Jordanov T, Rockstroh B, Elbert T, Merzenich MM, Miller GA -
Successive-signal biasing for a learned sound sequence.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2010 Zhou X, de Villers-Sidani E, Panizzutti R, Merzenich MM -
Recovery of functional and structural age-related changes in the rat primary auditory cortex with operant training.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2010 de Villers-Sidani E, Alzghoul L, Zhou X, Simpson KL, Lin RC, Merzenich MM -
Peripheral and central changes combine to induce motor behavioral deficits in a moderate repetition task.
Experimental neurology 2009 Coq JO, Barr AE, Strata F, Russier M, Kietrys DM, Merzenich MM, Byl NN, Barbe MF -
Non-homogeneous spatial configuration of vibrissae cortical representation in layer IV of the barrel somatosensory cortex.
Biological research 2009 Guic E, Carrasco X, Rodríguez E, Robles I, Merzenich MM -
Plasticity in primary somatosensory cortex resulting from environmentally enriched stimulation and sensory discrimination training.
Biological research 2009 Guic E, Carrasco X, Rodríguez E, Robles I, Merzenich MM -
Autism overflows with syntheses.
Neuropsychology review 2009 Belmonte MK, Bonneh YS, Adini Y, Iversen PE, Akshoomoff NA, Kenet T, Moore CI, Simon HJ, Houde JF, Merzenich MM -
Using neuroplasticity-based auditory training to improve verbal memory in schizophrenia.
The American journal of psychiatry 2009 Fisher M, Holland C, Merzenich MM, Vinogradov S -
Developmentally degraded cortical temporal processing restored by training.
Nature neuroscience 2008 Zhou X, Merzenich MM -
Cross-modal extinction in a boy with severely autistic behaviour and high verbal intelligence.
Cognitive neuropsychology 2008 Bonneh YS, Belmonte MK, Pei F, Iversen PE, Kenet T, Akshoomoff N, Adini Y, Simon HJ, Moore CI, Houde JF, Merzenich MM -
Manipulating critical period closure across different sectors of the primary auditory cortex.
Nature neuroscience 2008 de Villers-Sidani E, Simpson KL, Lu YF, Lin RC, Merzenich MM -
Enduring effects of early structured noise exposure on temporal modulation in the primary auditory cortex.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2008 Zhou X, Merzenich MM -
A synaptic memory trace for cortical receptive field plasticity.
Nature 2007 Froemke RC, Merzenich MM, Schreiner CE -
Impact of neonatal asphyxia and hind limb immobilization on musculoskeletal tissues and S1 map organization: implications for cerebral palsy.
Experimental neurology 2007 Coq JO, Strata F, Russier M, Safadi FF, Merzenich MM, Byl NN, Barbe MF -
Intensive training in adults refines A1 representations degraded in an early postnatal critical period.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2007 Zhou X, Merzenich MM -
Frequency-modulation encoding in the primary auditory cortex of the awake owl monkey.
Journal of neurophysiology 2007 Atencio CA, Blake DT, Strata F, Cheung SW, Merzenich MM, Schreiner CE -
Multiparametric auditory receptive field organization across five cortical fields in the albino rat.
Journal of neurophysiology 2007 Polley DB, Read HL, Storace DA, Merzenich MM -
Critical period window for spectral tuning defined in the primary auditory cortex (A1) in the rat.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 2007 de Villers-Sidani E, Chang EF, Bao S, Merzenich MM -
Experience-dependent adult cortical plasticity requires cognitive association between sensation and reward.
Neuron 2006 Blake DT, Heiser MA, Caywood M, Merzenich MM -
Memory enhancement in healthy older adults using a brain plasticity-based training program: a randomized, controlled study.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2006 Mahncke HW, Connor BB, Appelman J, Ahsanuddin ON, Hardy JL, Wood RA, Joyce NM, Boniske T, Atkins SM, Merzenich MM -
Perceptual learning directs auditory cortical map reorganization through top-down influences.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 2006 Polley DB, Steinberg EE, Merzenich MM -
Severe hearing loss in Dlxl mutant mice.
Hearing research 2006 Polley DB, Cobos I, Merzenich MM, Rubenstein JL -
Brain plasticity and functional losses in the aged: scientific bases for a novel intervention.
Progress in brain research 2006 Mahncke HW, Bronstone A, Merzenich MM -
Development of spectral and temporal response selectivity in the auditory cortex.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2005 Chang EF, Bao S, Imaizumi K, Schreiner CE, Merzenich MM -
Experience-dependent plasticity in S1 caused by noncoincident inputs.
Journal of neurophysiology 2005 Blake DT, Strata F, Kempter R, Merzenich MM -
Fine functional organization of auditory cortex revealed by Fourier optical imaging.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2005 Kalatsky VA, Polley DB, Merzenich MM, Schreiner CE, Stryker MP -
Cortical responses in rats predict perceptual sensitivities to complex sounds.
Behavioral neuroscience 2005 Orduña I, Mercado E, Gluck MA, Merzenich MM -
Associative learning shapes the neural code for stimulus magnitude in primary auditory cortex.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2004 Polley DB, Heiser MA, Blake DT, Schreiner CE, Merzenich MM -
Temporal plasticity in the primary auditory cortex induced by operant perceptual learning.
Nature neuroscience 2004 Bao S, Chang EF, Woods J, Merzenich MM -
Specialization of primary auditory cortex processing by sound exposure in the "critical period".
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2004 Nakahara H, Zhang LI, Merzenich MM -
Tone-evoked excitatory and inhibitory synaptic conductances of primary auditory cortex neurons.
Journal of neurophysiology 2004 Tan AY, Zhang LI, Merzenich MM, Schreiner CE -
Acoustic variability and distinguishability among mouse ultrasound vocalizations.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2003 Liu RC, Miller KD, Merzenich MM, Schreiner CE -
Progressive degradation and subsequent refinement of acoustic representations in the adult auditory cortex.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 2003 Bao S, Chang EF, Davis JD, Gobeske KT, Merzenich MM -
Reward-dependent plasticity in the primary auditory cortex of adult monkeys trained to discriminate temporally modulated signals.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2003 Beitel RE, Schreiner CE, Cheung SW, Wang X, Merzenich MM -
Topography and synaptic shaping of direction selectivity in primary auditory cortex.
Nature 2003 Zhang LI, Tan AY, Schreiner CE, Merzenich MM -
Spectrotemporal structure of receptive fields in areas AI and AAF of mouse auditory cortex.
Journal of neurophysiology 2003 Linden JF, Liu RC, Sahani M, Schreiner CE, Merzenich MM -
Band-pass response properties of rat SI neurons.
Journal of neurophysiology 2003 Garabedian CE, Jones SR, Merzenich MM, Dale A, Moore CI -
Environmental noise retards auditory cortical development.
Science (New York, N.Y.) 2003 Chang EF, Merzenich MM -
Neural deficits in children with dyslexia ameliorated by behavioral remediation: evidence from functional MRI.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2003 Temple E, Deutsch GK, Poldrack RA, Miller SL, Tallal P, Merzenich MM, Gabrieli JD -
Suppression of cortical representation through backward conditioning.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2003 Bao S, Chan VT, Zhang LI, Merzenich MM -
Changes of AI receptive fields with sound density.
Journal of neurophysiology 2002 Blake DT, Merzenich MM -
Modulation of the auditory cortex during speech: an MEG study.
Journal of cognitive neuroscience 2002 Houde JF, Nagarajan SS, Sekihara K, Merzenich MM -
Representation of the hand in the cerebral cortex.
Behavioural brain research 2002 Blake DT, Byl NN, Merzenich MM -
Local circuit properties underlying cortical reorganization.
Journal of neurophysiology 2002 Hickmott PW, Merzenich MM -
Neural correlates of instrumental learning in primary auditory cortex.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2002 Blake DT, Strata F, Churchland AK, Merzenich MM -
Representation of spectral and temporal envelope of twitter vocalizations in common marmoset primary auditory cortex.
Journal of neurophysiology 2002 Nagarajan SS, Cheung SW, Bedenbaugh P, Beitel RE, Schreiner CE, Merzenich MM -
Order-sensitive plasticity in adult primary auditory cortex.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2002 Kilgard MP, Merzenich MM -
Disruption of primary auditory cortex by synchronous auditory inputs during a critical period.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2002 Zhang LI, Bao S, Merzenich MM -
Correlation of clinical neuromusculoskeletal and central somatosensory performance: variability in controls and patients with severe and mild focal hand dystonia.
Neural plasticity 2002 Byl NN, Nagarajan SS, Merzenich MM, Roberts T, McKenzie A -
Sensory representation abnormalities that parallel focal hand dystonia in a primate model.
Somatosensory & motor research 2002 Blake DT, Byl NN, Cheung S, Bedenbaugh P, Nagarajan S, Lamb M, Merzenich M -
Auditory processing parallels reading abilities in adults.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2000 Ahissar M, Protopapas A, Reid M, Merzenich MM