Cynthia Moss

Cynthia Moss is a Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at The Johns Hopkins University, where she leads a research laboratory focused on systems, cognitive, and computational neuroscience. Her work is affiliated with the Neuroscience Training Program and the Psychological & Brain Sciences graduate program. She conducts pioneering research on echolocating bats to understand spatial perception, attention, and memory in natural behaviors.

Research Interests: Dr. Moss investigates how the brain integrates sensory input with motor output during complex behaviors such as flight and navigation. Her primary model system is the echolocating big brown bat, which uses biological sonar to navigate and hunt. She studies neural mechanisms in key brain regions including the hippocampus, midbrain superior colliculus, and somatosensory cortex. Her research spans spatial perception, attention, memory formation, sensorimotor integration, and tactile feedback in flight control. She employs wireless neural recordings from free-flying bats to study brain activity during natural behaviors, offering insights into 3D spatial representation and adaptive sensing.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2021–2024) reflect a strong focus on neural coding of 3D space, multisensory integration (especially tactile and visual cues in echolocation), adaptive vocal behavior, and social communication in bats. Her work increasingly bridges neuroscience with bio-inspired engineering, as seen in studies on wing mechanoreception and computational models of auditory processing. Collaborations with institutions like Columbia University expand the scope of her tactile sensing research.

Scientific Contributions: Although specific awards are not listed in the provided text, her consistent publication record in high-impact journals such as Nature Neuroscience, PNAS, Current Biology, and eLife underscores her leadership in neuroethology and systems neuroscience.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Moss mentors graduate students through the Neuroscience and Psychological & Brain Sciences programs at Johns Hopkins. While specific grant details are not mentioned, her extensive research output and long-term program suggest sustained funding from federal and private sources. She has trained numerous researchers and published over two decades of influential work on bat biosonar and brain function.

Labs and Teams: The Moss Lab at Johns Hopkins uses advanced techniques including multi-channel wireless neural recording, high-speed motion tracking, and acoustic monitoring to study freely behaving bats. The lab collaborates with experts in biophysics, engineering, and sensory neuroscience, forming interdisciplinary teams to explore active sensing and neural dynamics in natural contexts.