Unlocking the Brain's Communication Hub: The Power of the Thalamus with Dr. S. Murray Sherman

In this special episode of Neuroscience Perspectives Podcast, host John Foxe, PhD, director of the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, sits down with S. Murray Sherman, PhD, Maurice Goldblatt Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Chicago, in Chicago at the annual Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference. Sherman is a neuroscientist known for his groundbreaking work on the thalamus. Dive into a compelling conversation that unravels how the thalamus plays a pivotal role as the brain's relay center, transforming sensory input into meaningful perceptions and actions.

Discover how Dr. Sherman's research sheds light on the thalamus's intricate connections to cortical regions, revealing its role in shaping critical cognitive functions. From vision to decision-making, his work was integral in informing the understanding of the visual pathway from the retina through the thalamus to the cortex, and it also revealed other cortical areas organized in parallel to direct connections.

Learn how mentors and a bit of luck played critical roles in his journey, including Nobel laureates Richard Feynman, PhD, Roger Sperry, PhD, and Ray Guillery, PhD, who would become Sherman's longtime collaborator.