Lawrence Snyder, MD, PhD is a Professor of Neuroscience at Washington University School of Medicine with extensive research in cognitive neuroscience using non-human primate models. His work focuses on the neural basis of cognition, particularly examining how spatial information is processed and transformed into motor commands. Dr. Snyder received his AB in English from Princeton University in 1982, followed by both his MD and PhD (in Physiology) from the University of Rochester in 1992. His academic journey reflects a unique interdisciplinary approach combining humanities with advanced medical and scientific training. His research interests center on understanding small neural circuits underlying cognition, with specific emphasis on spatial representation, memory systems, eye-hand coordination, and functional connectivity. The Snyder laboratory investigates how sensory spatial information is transformed into motor commands, examining neural representations of space in parietal and frontal cortices. His work has contributed significantly to understanding effector-specific versus effector-general memory systems, bimanual coordination mechanisms, and the neural correlates of functional connectivity observed in fMRI studies. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on neural mechanisms of spatial cognition, memory processing, and motor control. His work bridges electrophysiological recordings with functional imaging techniques, demonstrating how slow rhythmic mechanisms underlie functional connectivity and how spatial memory representations evolve over time. His research increasingly incorporates sensorimotor integration aspects into perceptual decision-making frameworks. 1998-1999 Washington University/Howard Hughes Medical Institute Award 1998-2000 Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship 2001 Klingenstein Fellow 2000-2024 National Eye Institute Investigator 2004 EJLB Foundation Scholar Research Programme Award Recipient 2009-2019 National Mental Heath Institute Investigator 2012-2017 Co-Director, Washington University Neuroscience Program 2014-2019 Editorial Board, Journal of Neurophysiology 2015-2018 Program Committee, Society for Neuroscience Dr. Snyder has maintained continuous NIH funding throughout his career, serving as Principal Investigator on National Eye Institute grants from 2000-2024 and National Institute of Mental Health grants from 2009-2019. His laboratory has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to establish independent research careers. The Snyder lab has developed innovative techniques including oxygen polarography to simultaneously record oxygen levels across brain networks alongside LFP and spiking activity. The Snyder laboratory maintains a strong presence in the neuroscience community through regular participation in the Society for Neuroscience meetings and editorial service on prominent journals. His research continues to push boundaries in understanding how neural circuits support complex cognitive functions, with recent work exploring how sensorimotor faculties bias perceptual decision-making and choice behavior.








