Omar Ahmed

Associate Professor Omar Ahmed is a faculty member in the Biopsychology Department within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on neural circuit mechanisms of spatial navigation, memory consolidation, and their dysfunction in neurological disorders.

Dr. Ahmed's primary research interests include spatial navigation circuits, memory consolidation during sleep, Alzheimer's disease mechanisms, epilepsy pathophysiology, and therapeutic applications of psychedelic compounds. His lab employs transgenic rodent models, human patient studies, and AI-driven data analysis to investigate how neural circuits encode space, time, and speed.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on retrosplenial cortex function, theta oscillation dynamics, and the long-term cognitive effects of psychedelic compounds. His work bridges basic neuroscience with translational applications for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Altmetric Top 5% of all research output (2025) for psychedelic cognition study

Dr. Ahmed leads the Ahmed Lab, which investigates neural circuit repair strategies for neurological disorders. His research involves collaborative projects with U-M Psychology faculty and receives coverage in major scientific outlets including Discover Magazine and Inside Precision Medicine. The lab utilizes engineered mouse models and advanced physiological techniques to validate mechanisms of psychedelic medicine.

The Ahmed Lab maintains active research programs in:

• Neural circuit mapping of spatial navigation systems
• Theta oscillation dynamics across behavioral states
• Psychedelic compound effects on cognitive flexibility
• Seizure mechanisms in human neural tissue