Sten Grillner

Sten Grillner is a Senior Professor at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Neuroscience, focusing on the cellular and evolutionary basis of motor behavior. His research integrates neurophysiology, computational modeling, and evolutionary biology to understand neural circuits controlling movement, with a focus on lamprey models and basal ganglia function. His work explores how motor systems evolved, including the role of pH-sensing neurons and the neural basis of action selection.

Key research areas include: motor control mechanisms; evolution of vertebrate forebrain structures; modeling neural networks (e.g., striatum and spinal circuits); and the role of dopamine and other neuromodulators in behavior. His group's projects are funded by the Swedish Research Council, EU initiatives like the Human Brain Project, and Karolinska Institutet.

Publications span over 50 years, with recent work on basal ganglia microcircuits, computational neuroscience frameworks, and evolutionary insights from lamprey models. His team's interdisciplinary approach bridges experimental and theoretical neuroscience, contributing to understanding both normal motor function and neurological disorders.