Behavioral Neurophysiology

Stephen L. Macknik, PhD Biosketch
Director, Laboratory of Behavioral Neurophysiology
Barrow Neurological Institute

The Behavioral Neurophysiology Laboratory, headed by Dr. Stephen Macknik, PhD, is dedicated to studying the neural underpinnings of visual and sensory awareness and perception. A number of neurobiological techniques are employed so as to study the neural correlates of sensory experience, such as psychophysics (quantified measurements of behavior), electrophysiology of neuronal activity, and brain imaging such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and macroscopic as well as microscopic optical imaging. A special interest in the laboratory is the study of microscopic blood flow driven by perception and awareness, and occurring during disease states.

Watch: Nova: Magic and Autism

Barrow Researchers Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik explain to NOVA how magic tricks can shed some light on the workings of this mysterious disease.

Watch the full episode. See more NOVA scienceNOW.