Clayton E Curtis

Clayton E Curtis is a Professor of Psychology and Neural Science at New York University, affiliated with the College of Arts & Science. His research focuses on understanding neural mechanisms underlying higher-order cognition, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and parietal cortex, emphasizing working memory, attention, and motor control. He investigates how these brain regions support adaptive behavior and contribute to cognitive disorders like schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1999
• M.A. in Psychology, University of Minnesota, 1997
• B.A. in Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 1992

Research Interests: Dr. Curtis studies the neural basis of working memory, spatial cognition, and executive control. Key areas include persistent neural activity in PFC, spatial attention, inhibitory control of actions, and translational research linking human and non-human primate models. His work employs fMRI, electrophysiology, and behavioral experiments to unravel how the brain prioritizes information and coordinates motor responses.

Publications & Trends: His recent articles explore mechanisms of working memory prioritization, neural correlates of cognitive effort, and spatial tuning in visual cortex. Themes include interplay between attention, memory, and motor planning, with a focus on neural network dynamics and disease-related deficits.

Labs & Teams: His lab at NYU integrates neuroimaging and behavioral methods to study cognitive functions, collaborating with researchers in electrophysiology and computational neuroscience. Ongoing projects include mapping retinotopic organization in frontal cortex and investigating drug effects on memory precision.