I am interested in the neural mechanisms underlying complex motor behaviors and cognition.  I entered the Medical Neurobiology Ph.D. program in 1999 because it offered the opportunity to study brain processes at various levels: from neurochemistry and neuropharmacology to neuroanatomy and sensorimotor integration.   The diversity of the coursework and of the faculty here has provided me with an excellent foundation for a career in neuroscientific research. In Dr. David  Suzuki’s lab, we investigate neuronal activity that is associated with  eye, head and hand movements  using single-unit recordings and psychophysical experiments. By investigating the brain processes underlying the procurement of complex motor behaviors,  we hope to better understand the process of sensorimotor integration and the cognitive input to these neural processes.  By understanding the motor system and the cognitive components of voluntary movement,  I believe that we can better understand the mechanisms underlying cognition and, therefore, more appropriately address psychiatric disorders and brain dysfunction.

        Patti Giever