Marc Sommer

Bio

We study circuits for cognition. Using a combination of neurophysiology and biomedical engineering, we focus on the interaction between brain areas during visual perception, decision-making, and motor planning. Specific projects include the role of frontal cortex in metacognition, the role of cerebellar-frontal circuits in action timing, the neural basis of "good enough" decision-making (satisficing), and the neural mechanisms of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Education

• Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995

Positions

• Professor of Biomedical Engineering
• Associate Professor in Neurobiology
• Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
• Member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience
• Investigator in the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
• Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

• Capers and Marion McDonald Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research. Pratt School of Engineering. 2021
• Capers and Marion McDonald Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Advising. Pratt School of Engineering. 2017
• Bass Fellow. Duke University. 2017
• Research Fellowship-Neuroscience. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. 2005

Courses Taught

• BME 493-1: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
• BME 493: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
• BME 494: Projects in Biomedical Engineering (GE)
• BME 517: Neuronal Control of Movement (GE, EL)
• BME 601L: Introduction to Neural Engineering
• BME 791: Graduate Independent Study
• BME 792: Continuation of Graduate Independent Study
• EGR 393: Research Projects in Engineering
• NEUROBIO 393: Research Independent Study
• NEUROBIO 793: Research in Neurobiology
• NEUROSCI 493: Research Independent Study 1
• NEUROSCI 507: Neuronal Control of Movement (GE, EL)
• NEUROSCI 517: Neuronal Control of Movement (GE, EL)
• NEUROSCI 755: Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Neuroscience (IPCN) Independent Research Rotation