James Hyman
Biography
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ psychology professor and neuroscientist James Hyman leads the Hyman in vivo Electrophysiology (HivE) Lab. The lab studies neural interactions related to learning, emotion, behavior, time tracking, cognitive flexibility, and memory, and the effects of neurodegenerative and other diseases on these processes.
His most recent work has focused on the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and hippocampus — which are integral for memory and cognitive processing, are affected early in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, and represent areas of therapeutic interest for a host of illnesses. For example, one study unraveled how high blood sugar and glucose levels associated with Type 2 diabetes weakened function in these two key parts of the brain. Another study analyzed changes in brain activity patterns to determine how the ACC tracks the passage of time over a span of just a few minutes to hours.
Additionally, Hyman has made several notable discoveries, including hippocampal-prefrontal theta interactions, multiple neural prediction error signals in the ACC, and ACC-led interactions with the hippocampus during long-term memory recall.
Hyman's research has been published in many prominent journals, including Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, Cell Reports, Current Biology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and the Journal of Neuroscience. And his work has gathered national media attention from outlets including the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Gizmodo, Neuroscience News, Medical News Today, and KNPR. Hyman also regularly pens a contributor column for Psychology Today.
Education
- Ph.D., Psychology, Boston University
- B.S., Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University
Related Links
James Hyman In The News
Articles Featuring James Hyman
Study Unlocks How Diabetes Distorts Memory and Reward Processing
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ research team says high blood sugar levels appear to weaken function in key part of brain, mimicking Alzheimer’s.
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Newsmakers 2024: July
Roundup of the hottest news headlines featuring 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ students and staff.
Good Timing: 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Study Unravels How Our Brains Track Time
It’s not how many minutes, but how much fun, says new neuroscience research.
51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health Earn $11.3 Million NIH Grant to Bolster Neuroscience Research in Southern Nevada
Joint Center for Neurodegeneration and Translational Neuroscience earns continuation funding to support regional research, infrastructure, and career development.