Michael Louis Platt

Michael Louis Platt is the James S. Riepe University Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. He directs the Platt Labs and the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative (WiN), which connects brain science with business applications. Platt earned his B.A. in Biological Anthropology from Yale University (1989) and his Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania (1994).

His research focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms of decision-making in complex social environments, integrating neuroscience with psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology. The Platt Lab employs diverse methodologies including neuroimaging, single-neuron recordings, eye-tracking, genomics, and behavioral analysis to study decision processes in humans and non-human primates.

Analysis of recent publications reveals consistent themes in decision neuroscience, primate cognition, social behavior, and neuroeconomics. His work frequently examines comparative approaches between human and primate cognition, neural mechanisms of social interaction, and applications to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Scientific Awards:

• James S. Riepe University Professorship

Platt leads a large research team including postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and research specialists. The lab has trained numerous scholars through its extensive alumni network. Research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Sloan Foundation, Klingenstein Foundation, McDonnell Foundation, and Department of Defense.

The Platt Lab maintains active field research at Cayo Santiago (Puerto Rico) with rhesus macaques and collaborates internationally. Platt has served as president of the Society for Neuroeconomics and advises on science communication through media and film projects.