Andrew M. Clark

Andrew M. Clark, PhD

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Research Interests

  • Mechanisms of Visual Impairment
  • Neurophysiology of Cortical Circuits
  • Development of Optogenetic Tools and Techniques
  • Neural Mechanisms of Visual Perception
  • Neural Mechanisms of Visually-Guided Behavior
  • Visual Perception or Processing
  • Neurophysiology
  • Optogenetics

Dr. Clark’s primary focus is on the functional organization of neural pathways in the visual cortex. He is ultimately interested in understanding how visual stimuli are encoded within cortical networks, and how these representations are used to guide behavior.

He received his PhD from the University of Chicago, where he studied the neural mechanisms of visual motion perception. His post-doctoral work at the National Institute of Mental Health examined the role of long-range projections linking the prefrontal cortex and the medial temporal lobe in visually guided behavior.

Following a post-doctoral fellowship at the John A. Moran Eye Center, during which he helped develop a novel method for optogenetic investigation of cortical circuits, Dr. Clark joined the faculty as a Research Assistant Professor in July 2023.

Research Statement

My research focuses on distributed representations within visual cortical circuits and the relationship between these neural signals and the subjective appearance and behavioral significance of visual stimuli. Understanding these circuits requires combining large-scale recordings of cortical activity patterns, carefully designed stimuli and behavioral tasks, and novel methods for selectively manipulating different circuit elements.

Education History

Postdoctoral Fellowship University of Utah
 Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellowship National Institutes of Health
 Postdoctoral Fellow
Doctoral Training University of Chicago
 PHD
Undergraduate Miami University
 BA, BS

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Villamarin-Ortiz, A, Reiche, CF, Federer, F, Clark, AM, Rolston, JD, Soto-Sanchez, C, Fernandez, E, Blair, S, Angelucci, A (2025). Cortical response to acute implantation of the Utah Optrode Array in Macaque Cortex. Adv Healthc Mater.
  2. McAlinden, N, Reiche, C F, Clark, A M, Scharf, R, Cheng, Y, Sharma, R, Rieth, L, Dawson, M D, Angelucci, A, Mathieson, K, Blair, S (2024). In vivo optogenetics using a Utah Optrode Array with enhanced light output and spatial selectivity. J Neural Eng.
  3. Clark, A M, Ingold, A, Reiche, C F, Cundy, D, Balsor, J L, Federer, F, McAlinden, N, Cheng, Y, Rolston, J D, Rieth, L, Dawson, M D, Mathieson, K, Blair, S, Angelucci, A (2024). An optrode array for spatiotemporally-precise large-scale optogenetic stimulation of deep cortical layers in non-human primates. Commun Biol.
  4. Clark, A M, Bradley, D C (2022). A neural correlate of perceptual segmentation in macaque middle temporal cortical area . Nat Commun.
  5. Tremblay, S, Acker, L, Afraz, A, Albaugh, D L, Amita, H, Andrei, A R, Angelucci, A, Aschner, A, Balan, P F, Basso, M A, Benvenuti, G, Bohlen, M O, Caiola, M J, Calcedo, R, Cavanaugh, J, Chen, Y, Chen, S, Chernov, M M, Clark, A M, Platt, M L (2020). An Open Resource for Non-human Primate Optogenetics. Neuron.
  6. Bijanzadeh, M, Nurminen, L, Merlin, S, Clark, A M, Angelucci, A (2018). Distinct Laminar Processing of Local and Global Context in Primate Primary Visual Cortex. Neuron.
  7. Clark, A M, Bouret, S, Young, A M, Murray, E A, Richmond, B J (2013). Interaction Between Orbital Prefrontal and Rhinal Cortex Is Required for Normal Estimates of Expected Value. J Neurosci.
  8. Clark, A M, Bouret, S, Young, A M, Richmond, B J (2012). Intersection of Reward and Memory in Monkey Rhinal Cortex. J Neurosci.

Review

  1. Clark, A M (2013). Reward processing: a global brain phenomenon? [Review]. J Neurophysiol.

Editorial

  1. Clark, A M (2014). TiNS Special Issue: Circuit Development and Remodeling .