Mike Wiest

Mike Wiest is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Wellesley College, where he researches the neural basis of perception and consciousness through electrophysiological studies of sensory integration in rats.

• B.A., Dartmouth College
• M.S., Michigan State University
• Ph.D., Michigan State University

His research focuses on how distributed neural activity generates coherent perceptions, using multi-neuron recordings during behavioral tasks to investigate disorders like Alzheimer's disease, dyslexia, and attention deficit disorder. He combines experimental approaches with computational modeling in MATLAB and NEURON to simulate neural dynamics underlying sensory processing and consciousness.

Wiest teaches across the neuroscience curriculum including introductory courses (NEUR 100), intermediate neurophysiology (NEUR 200 featuring histology and crayfish electrophysiology labs), and advanced Computational Neuroscience (NEUR 335). His first-year seminar "Brains, Minds, and Machines" explores artificial intelligence from biological and computer science perspectives. Outside academia, he practices aikido and plays rock guitar while leading backpacking trips.