Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke is a Senior Lecturer in Neural Plasticity at King's College London, part of the School of Neuroscience and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. His research focuses on understanding the cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of learning and memory, particularly in neurodevelopmental disorders and dementia. He is also actively involved in teaching, co-leading the 'Memory Mechanisms in Health and Disease' module.

Key collaborators include Prof. Karl Peter Giese, Dr. Alessio Delogu, Dr. Daniel Bendor, and Prof. Mark Bear. His laboratory investigates experience-dependent plasticity, with a focus on how environmental factors shape nervous system function. Recent projects include studies on visual cortical plasticity, GABAergic regulation in autism, and circadian responses to light.

Research interests span synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and visual cortex, with contributions to understanding long-term potentiation, habituation, and biomarkers for neurological disorders. He has contributed to over 30 peer-reviewed publications and led projects funded by the MRC, BBSRC, and Wellcome Trust.

Sam Cooke's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in advancing health and well-being. His research group, the Experience-Dependent Plasticity Group, explores mechanisms underlying memory formation and dysfunction, with implications for developing novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.