Shreesh Mysore

Shreesh Mysore is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, with secondary appointments in the Department of Neuroscience and the Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute. He leads an interdisciplinary research program focused on the neural basis of attention, decision-making, and cognitive function.

His educational background includes a PhD in Control and Dynamical Systems from Caltech, an MA in Mathematics from Penn State, an MS in Industrial Engineering from Penn State, and a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras. He completed postdoctoral training in Neurobiology at Stanford University.

Dr. Mysore's research explores how neural circuits implement competitive selection for attention, using tools such as electrophysiology, calcium imaging, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and computational modeling in freely behaving animals. His lab investigates fundamental principles of neural computation across species and aims to uncover mechanisms relevant to psychiatric disorders like ADHD, autism, and schizophrenia. He also explores bio-inspired artificial intelligence.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on inhibitory circuit motifs in the midbrain and brainstem, particularly how they enable categorical stimulus selection and attentional control. The work spans systems, computational, and behavioral neuroscience, with frequent appearances in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, eLife, and Cell Reports. A recurring theme is the discovery of canonical circuit principles underlying cognitive functions.

• NSF CAREER Award
• NIH R01 (NEI)
• NIH R21 (NIMH)
• OneNeuro Discovery Award, JHU
• Trainee awards: NIH F32, NSF GRFP (honorable mention), Dean’s Dissertation Prize

Dr. Mysore has advised numerous PhD and postdoctoral trainees, many of whom have gone on to academic and industry positions. His lab collaborates with PIs in neuroscience, computer science, and engineering. Current research includes theoretical modeling of learning rules, neural dynamics of decision-making, and cross-species comparisons of attentional circuits. The lab emphasizes training in an environment of kindness, curiosity, and integrity.

The Mysore Lab is based at Johns Hopkins and includes postdocs, PhD students, research technicians, and undergraduates working on diverse projects ranging from neural circuit dissection to AI algorithm development.