Dr. Joshua Berke is a preeminent neuroscientist whose pioneering research has significantly advanced our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying complex cognitive functions. He currently serves as Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, holding the distinguished Rudi Schmid Professorship in Neurology. His academic foundation was established through a BA/MA from Cambridge University followed by a PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard University, which prepared him for his impactful career in systems neuroscience. At UCSF, Dr. Berke is Director of the Alcohol and Addiction Research Group at the University of California, San Francisco and the Wheeler Center for the Neurobiology of Addiction, positions that underscore his leadership in translational neuroscience research addressing critical neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Dr. Berke's groundbreaking research has transformed our understanding of basal ganglia circuits and their dopaminergic modulation during decision-making, learning, and motivated behavior. His laboratory pioneered an integrative methodology combining sophisticated behavioral paradigms with simultaneous multi-neuron electrophysiological recordings, real-time neurochemical measurements, and optogenetic manipulations in awake behaving animals. This innovative approach has yielded fundamental insights into how dopamine signaling shapes time perception, spatial cognition, and value-based choices within mammalian neural circuits. His work provides critical mechanistic explanations for both normal cognitive function and pathological conditions including drug addiction, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, establishing new frameworks for understanding neural circuit dysfunction.
With over 13,700 citations reflecting the profound impact of his work, Dr. Berke has become a central figure in contemporary neuroscience, bridging basic research with clinical applications through his leadership at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. His laboratory continues to push methodological boundaries by developing novel technologies for systems neuroscience while investigating the temporal dynamics of neural circuits during complex cognitive operations. Beyond his experimental contributions, Dr. Berke has cultivated a vibrant research community through mentorship of numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to establish independent research programs. His ongoing investigations into the neurobiological basis of decision-making and addiction continue to shape theoretical frameworks and inspire new therapeutic approaches for neurological and psychiatric disorders worldwide.
