Northwestern University · PhysiologyShepherd Motor Lab
Gordon M Shepherd · Evanston, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Gordon Shepherd's lab focuses on understanding how the brain controls movements, particularly through the study of the motor cortex circuits involved in arm and hand movements. The lab explores how different areas of the brain communicate during these actions, aiming to uncover mechanisms that may lead to better treatments for movement disorders. By using advanced techniques, the research seeks to advance our knowledge about how sensory information and motor planning interact in the brain.
motor cortexneural circuitsmovement disorderselectrophysiologyoptogenetics
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the circuit organization of motor cortex involved in movement.
AIM 02Characterize the interactions between different cortical areas that control movement.
AIM 03Examine how sensory feedback influences motor planning and execution.
AIM 04Analyze the asymmetry in circuit functions related to motor control.
AIM 05Explore the mechanistic underpinnings of communication between premotor and primary motor areas.
Skills the Lab Values
electrophysiological recordingsoptogeneticsmouse modelsviral labelingwhole-cell recordings
Output against the department
Publications490top 6% of dept.16th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations30ktop 7% of dept.20th of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.