Dr. Adam Gazzaley stands as a pioneering figure in cognitive neuroscience and translational brain health research. He currently serves as the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco where he also founded and directs Neuroscape, an innovative translational neuroscience center. Adam Gazzaley was born on December 29, 1968, in New York City, he pursued a dual MD and PhD in Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine before completing his Neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania and postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley. His early fascination with science, sparked by childhood visits to the Museum of Natural History and watching Cosmos, laid the foundation for his groundbreaking career exploring the intersection of neuroscience and technology.
Gazzaley's research laboratory has made seminal contributions to understanding the neural mechanisms of perception, attention and memory with particular emphasis on the impact of distraction and multitasking across the lifespan. His innovative methodology integrates multiple neurophysiological tools including functional MRI, EEG, and transcranial magnetic stimulation to unravel cognitive processes in both healthy and aging brains. A major accomplishment of his work has been expanding our understanding of cognitive decline mechanisms in aging, leading to novel approaches for cognitive enhancement and prevention strategies. Most notably, he invented the first video game cleared by the FDA as a medical treatment, representing a paradigm shift in digital therapeutics for cognitive disorders.
As a highly influential voice in neuroscience, Gazzaley has authored over 190 scientific articles and delivered more than 750 presentations worldwide while receiving consistent media coverage from prestigious outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and PBS. He co-founded Akili Interactive Labs, a company that developed the FDA-cleared EndeavorRx therapeutic video game and was named to Fast Company's list of the World's Most Innovative Companies in 2022, as well as JAZZ Venture Partners which invests in experiential technology. His thought leadership extends to his nationally-televised PBS special The Distracted Mind and MIT Press book co-authored with Larry Rosen, establishing him as a preeminent authority on cognition in the digital age. Gazzaley continues to advance the frontier of neuroscience through his work at Neuroscape, exploring how interactive technologies can optimize brain function across multiple neuropsychiatric conditions.
