S. Murray Sherman, PhD

The research in the laboratory is directed at issues of thalamic functional organization and thalamocortical relationships, mainly using the visual and somatosensory pathways in the mouse as experimental models. We use a broad interdisciplinary approach, attempting to answer the same or closely related questions with several different techniques. More specifically, we use neuroanatomical techniques to explore various circuits; we use in vitro recordings from brain slices to study cell and synaptic properties; and we record from in vivo preparations to evaluate these circuits in whole animals using an awake, behaving preparation to determine the relationship between behavioral and cognitive parameters and thalamocortical functioning.



Stimulation techniques in slices include electrical activation and laser photostimulation involving both uncaging of glutamate (or GABA) and optogenetics; recording involves mainly patching of single neurons and imaging via flavoprotein autofluorescence. For in vivo recording, we use conventional single cell electrophysiology, current source density analysis, and have recently imported the technique of 2-photon calcium imaging, which enables us to follow responses of hundreds of cortical cells simultaneously. To activate or inhibit specific pathways we use optogenetics and DREAD (Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs) techniques often involving specific mouse genetic lines (e.g., involving Cre expression in transgenic mouse lines)

Oxford University
Oxford, England
M.A. (Honorary) - Neuroscience
1985

Australian National University
Canberra, Australia
NA - Postdoctoral training in neurophysiology
1972

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Ph.D. - Neuroanatomy
1969

California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
B.S. - Biology
1965

Radiological Risk Factors for Osteochondral Fractures in Patients With First-Time and Recurrent Patellar Instability: Data From the JUPITER Cohort.
Radiological Risk Factors for Osteochondral Fractures in Patients With First-Time and Recurrent Patellar Instability: Data From the JUPITER Cohort. Am J Sports Med. 2025 Mar; 53(4):839-847.
PMID: 39939854

A modified Delphi consensus statement on patellar instability: part I.
A modified Delphi consensus statement on patellar instability: part I. Bone Joint J. 2023 Dec 01; 105-B(12):1259-1264.
PMID: 38037678

A modified Delphi consensus statement on patellar instability: part II.
A modified Delphi consensus statement on patellar instability: part II. Bone Joint J. 2023 Dec 01; 105-B(12):1265-1270.
PMID: 38035602

Experts Achieve Consensus on a Majority of Statements Regarding Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments for Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pathology.
Experts Achieve Consensus on a Majority of Statements Regarding Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments for Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pathology. Arthroscopy. 2024 02; 40(2):470-477.e1.
PMID: 37625660

Assessing Equitable Inclusion of Underrepresented Older Adults in Alzheimer's Disease, Related Cognitive Disorders, and Aging-Related Research: A Scoping Review.
Assessing Equitable Inclusion of Underrepresented Older Adults in Alzheimer's Disease, Related Cognitive Disorders, and Aging-Related Research: A Scoping Review. Gerontologist. 2023 07 18; 63(6):1067-1077.
PMID: 35472166

Assessing Equitable Inclusion of Underrepresented Older Adults in Alzheimer's Disease, Related Cognitive Disorders, and Aging-Related Research: A Scoping Review.
Assessing Equitable Inclusion of Underrepresented Older Adults in Alzheimer's Disease, Related Cognitive Disorders, and Aging-Related Research: A Scoping Review. Gerontologist. 2022 Apr 26.
PMID: 35472166

Association of E-Cigarettes With Erectile Dysfunction: The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study.
Association of E-Cigarettes With Erectile Dysfunction: The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Am J Prev Med. 2022 01; 62(1):26-38.
PMID: 34922653

Cortical control of behavior and attention from an evolutionary perspective.
Cortical control of behavior and attention from an evolutionary perspective. Neuron. 2021 10 06; 109(19):3048-3054.
PMID: 34297915

Layer 5 Corticofugal Projections from Diverse Cortical Areas: Variations on a Pattern of Thalamic and Extrathalamic Targets.
Layer 5 Corticofugal Projections from Diverse Cortical Areas: Variations on a Pattern of Thalamic and Extrathalamic Targets. J Neurosci. 2020 07 22; 40(30):5785-5796.
PMID: 32532890

Transgender Women's Concerns and Preferences on Potential Future Long-Acting Biomedical HIV Prevention Strategies: The Case of Injections and Implanted Medication Delivery Devices (IMDDs).
Transgender Women's Concerns and Preferences on Potential Future Long-Acting Biomedical HIV Prevention Strategies: The Case of Injections and Implanted Medication Delivery Devices (IMDDs). AIDS Behav. 2020 May; 24(5):1452-1462.
PMID: 31654172

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Professorial Fellow
St. John’s College of Oxford University
2010 - 2010

Dr. Lee Visiting Research Fellow
of Christ Church College of University of Oxford
2000 - 2001

Guggenheim Fellow
Guggenheim Foundation
2000 - 2001

Guest Professor
University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei
1998 - 2000

Newton Abraham Visiting Professor
Lincoln College of Oxford University
1985 - 1986

Honorary M.A. degree
Oxford University
1985 - 1985