Paul R. Adams

Paul R. Adams is a Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine. He joined Stony Brook in 1981 as an Associate Professor and was promoted to Professor in 1984, following prior faculty service at the University of Texas (1977-1981).

His educational background includes a B.A. in Physiology and Pharmacology from Cambridge University (1968) and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from London University (1974).

Professor Adams' research centers on computational neuroscience, investigating how synaptic modifications underlying learning are compromised by crosstalk between densely packed synapses. His pioneering Synaptic Darwinism theory proposes evolutionary mechanisms for cortical learning, including "Hebbian proofreading" where layer 6 neurons detect and correct learning errors. He further explores how inter-brain communication networks overcome individual learning failures through information sharing.

His publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on mathematical modeling of neural plasticity, evolving from foundational Synaptic Darwinism concepts (1997-2002) to recent work on crosstalk minimization (2013-2014). Key themes include Hebbian learning constraints, cortical circuitry reinterpretation, and theoretical solutions to neural network limitations.

Notable honors include the MacArthur Foundation Prize (1986), election as Fellow of the Royal Society (1991), and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigatorship (1987-1995).

Professor Adams leads theoretical neuroscience research through the Kalypso Mind/Brain Center, collaborating with Research Assistant Professor Kingsley Cox. His HHMI-funded work has influenced understanding of cortical function relevant to autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. He serves on editorial boards including Frontiers in Neural Circuits.

The Synaptic Darwinism project maintains active investigation into cerebral cortex principles, exploring implications for both neurological disorders and fundamental questions about consciousness.