Leslie M. Kay

Leslie M. Kay is a Professor of Psychology and Deputy Dean for Research at The University of Chicago. Her research focuses on olfactory neurophysiology, oscillatory dynamics, and the interplay between context and cognition in sensory processing.

• Education: BA in Liberal Arts from St. John's College, Santa Fe; PhD in Biophysics from UC Berkeley

At the Institute for Mind & Biology, her lab investigates how behavioral context affects olfactory and limbic system neurophysiology through psychophysical and electrophysiological approaches. Key research areas include:

• Roles of respiratory rhythms in neural synchronization
• Theta/gamma oscillation mechanisms
• Odor perception across sensory pathways
• Neurocognitive strategies in odor processing