Dr. Jon Kaas is a world-renowned neuroscientist whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed our understanding of brain organization and evolution across mammalian species. He currently serves as the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair and Distinguished Centennial Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University, with additional appointments in the Departments of Cell and Developmental Biology and Radiology & Radiological Sciences. After earning his Ph.D. in Psychology from Duke University, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neurophysiology at the University of Wisconsin under Clinton Woolsey, establishing the foundation for his groundbreaking research on sensory systems. He joined Vanderbilt University in 1973 and has since built one of the most influential neuroscience research programs focused on comparative brain organization and plasticity.
Dr. Kaas's seminal contributions include the first descriptions of topographically organized areas in the extrastriate cortex of primates, most notably the identification of the middle temporal area MT or V5 and the dorsomedial area V6, which revolutionized our understanding of visual processing pathways. His demonstration of cortical plasticity following sensory organ lesions provided critical evidence for the brain's remarkable capacity to reorganize its functional architecture in response to injury and experience throughout the lifespan. His research methodology, which integrates electrophysiological, neuroanatomical, biochemical, and behavioral techniques, has established new paradigms for studying sensory and motor systems across mammalian species. With over 400 publications and extensive citations, his work forms the bedrock of modern comparative neuroscience and continues to guide researchers investigating brain evolution and plasticity mechanisms.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Kaas has profoundly shaped the field through his mentorship of numerous neuroscientists who now lead laboratories worldwide and through his editorial contributions to major neuroscience journals. His influential books on brain evolution and plasticity have educated generations of neuroscientists and established conceptual frameworks that continue to drive the field forward. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences and recipient of the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, his legacy extends beyond his specific discoveries to the very foundations of how we understand brain organization and adaptation. His current research continues to explore the intricate relationships between sensory inputs, motor outputs, and cognitive processing in primate brains, maintaining his position at the forefront of neuroscience discovery.
