John Pearson

Neurobiology

Associate Professor of Neurobiology

John Pearson Profile Photo

Bio

What makes us intelligent? How do the hundred billion cells in our brain give rise to speech, music, and athletic performance, and how does this process break down in disease? Just as fixing a computer requires a mental model of how its parts work together, treating brain disorders will require understanding the fundamental principles by which the brain develops, learns, and maintains its function over time.

Our lab works to identify these fundamental principles. In close collaboration with experimentalists, we devise new methods for distilling scientific hypotheses from large and complex data sets, and we build AI-driven systems that adapt experiments to incoming data in real time. Our ultimate goal is to produce theories that allow both scientists and clinicians to reason about brain function, understand existing data, and devise new treatments.

Education

B.S. University of Kentucky, 1999
Ph.D. Princeton University, 2004

Positions

Associate Professor of Neurobiology
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Assistant Research Professor in Neurobiology
Member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

Early Career Mentoring Award in Basic u2014 Translational Science. Duke University School of Medicine. 2022
Gordon G. Hammes Faculty Teaching Award. Duke University School of Medicine. 2020

Courses Taught

NEUROSCI 755: Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Neuroscience (IPCN) Independent Research Rotation
NEUROSCI 494: Research Independent Study 2
NEUROSCI 493: Research Independent Study 1
NEUROBIO 735: Quantitative Approaches in Neurobiology
NEUROBIO 730: Statistics for Neuroscience

Publications

Qi J, Schreiner DC, Martinez M, Pearson J, Mooney R. Dual neuromodulatory dynamics underlie birdsong learning. Nature. 2025 Mar 12;
Subramanian D, Pearson J, Sommer M. Frontal eye field neurons predict u201canti-Bayesianu201d but not Bayesian judgments of visual stability across saccades. bioRxiv. 2025.
Harmon TC, Madlon-Kay S, Pearson J, Mooney R. Vocalization modulates the mouse auditory cortex even in the absence of hearing. Cell Rep. 2024 Aug 27;43(8):114611.
Ou2019Neill K, Henne P, Pearson J, De Brigard F. Modeling confidence in causal judgments. J Exp Psychol Gen. 2024 Aug;153(8):2142u201359.
Albuquerque DD, Pearson J. Inflationary Flows: Calibrated Bayesian Inference with Diffusion-Basedn Models. 2024.
de Albuquerque D, Pearson J. Inflationary Flows: Calibrated Bayesian Inference with Diffusion-Based Models. In: Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems. 2024.
Pearson J, Kumar A. Sophisticated models, minimum descriptions, and the Goldilocks zone of behavior: Comment on "Beyond simple laboratory studies: Developing sophisticated models to study rich behavior" by Maselli et al. Phys Life Rev. 2023 Dec;47:137u20138.
Subramanian D, Pearson JM, Sommer MA. Bayesian and Discriminative Models for Active Visual Perception across Saccades. eNeuro. 2023 Jul;10(7).
Brudner S, Pearson J, Mooney R. Generative models of birdsong learning link circadian fluctuations in song variability to changes in performance. PLoS Comput Biol. 2023 May;19(5):e1011051.
Jiang Y, McDonald KR, Pearson JM, Platt ML. Neuronal mechanisms of dynamic strategic competition. 2023.
Castrellon JJ, Hakimi S, Parelman JM, Yin L, Law JR, Skene JAG, et al. Social cognitive processes explain bias in juror decisions. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2023 Feb 23;18(1).
Subramanian D, Pearson JM, Sommer MA. Bayesian and Discriminative Models for Active Visual Perception across Saccades. ENEURO. 2023;10(7).
Jun NY, Field GD, Pearson JM. Efficient coding, channel capacity, and the emergence of retinal mosaics. Adv Neural Inf Process Syst. 2022 Dec;35:32311u201324.
Castrellon JJ, Hakimi S, Parelman JM, Yin L, Law JR, Skene JAG, et al. Neural Support for Contributions of Utility and Narrative Processing of Evidence in Juror Decision Making. J Neurosci. 2022 Oct 5;42(40):7624u201333.
Ou2019Neill K, Henne P, Bello P, Pearson J, De Brigard F. Confidence and gradation in causal judgment. Cognition. 2022 Jun;223:105036.
Martinez M, Pearson J. Reproducible, incremental representation learning with Rosetta VAE. 2022.
Jun NY, Field G, Pearson J. Efficient coding, channel capacity and the emergence of retinal mosaics. bioRxiv. 2022.
Ou2019Neill K, Henne P, Pearson J, De Brigard F. Measuring and Modeling Confidence in Human Causal Judgment. In: Proceedings of the 44th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Cognitive Diversity, CogSci 2022. 2022. p. 446u201352.
Hsiung A, Pearson J, Poh J-H, Hakimi S, Adcock A, Huettel S. Between heuristics and optimality: Flexible integration of cost and evidence during information sampling. bioRxiv. 2022.
Subramanian D, Pearson J, Sommer M. Contributions of Bayesian and Discriminative Models to Active Visual Perception across Saccades. bioRxiv. 2022.
Draelos A, Gupta P, Jun NY, Sriworarat C, Pearson J. Bubblewrap: Online tiling and real-time flow prediction on neural manifolds. In: Adv Neural Inf Process Syst. 2021. p. 6062u201374.
Singh Alvarado J, Goffinet J, Michael V, Liberti W, Hatfield J, Gardner T, et al. Neural dynamics underlying birdsong practice and performance. Nature. 2021 Nov;599(7886):635u20139.
Jun NY, Field GD, Pearson J. Scene statistics and noise determine the relative arrangement of receptive field mosaics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Sep 28;118(39).
Draelos A, Gupta P, Jun NY, Sriworarat C, Pearson J. Bubblewrap: Online tiling and real-time flow prediction on neuraln manifolds. 2021 Aug 31;
Goffinet J, Mooney R, Pearson J, Brudner S. Data from: Low-dimensional learned feature spaces quantify individual and group differences in vocal repertoires. 2021.
Goffinet J, Brudner S, Mooney R, Pearson J. Low-dimensional learned feature spaces quantify individual and group differences in vocal repertoires. Elife. 2021 May 14;10.
Roy S, Jun NY, Davis EL, Pearson J, Field GD. Inter-mosaic coordination of retinal receptive fields. Nature. 2021 Apr;592(7854):409u201313.
Adams GK, Ong WS, Pearson JM, Watson KK, Platt ML. Neurons in primate prefrontal cortex signal valuable social information during natural viewing. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2021 Mar;376(1819):20190666.
Yoo SBM, Hayden BY, Pearson JM. Continuous decisions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2021 Mar;376(1819):20190664.
Xu Y, Lin Y, Bell RP, Towe SL, Pearson JM, Nadeem T, et al. Machine learning prediction of neurocognitive impairment among people with HIV using clinical and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging data. J Neurovirol. 2021 Feb;27(1):1u201311.
Addicott MA, Pearson JM, Schechter JC, Sapyta JJ, Weiss MD, Kollins SH. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the explore/exploit trade-off. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2021 Feb;46(3):614u201321.
Draelos A, Loring M, Nikitchenko M, Sriworarat C, Gupta P, Sprague D, et al. improv: A software platform for real-time and adaptive neuroscience experiments. 2021;
Jun NY, Field G, Pearson J. The optimal spatial arrangement of ON and OFF receptive fields. 2021;
de Albuquerque D, Goffinet J, Wright R, Pearson J. Deep Generative Analysis for Task-Based Functional MRI Experiments. 2021;
Besanu00e7on M, Papamarkou T, Anthoff D, Arslan A, Byrne S, Lin D, et al. Distributions.jl: Definition and modeling of probability distributions in the JuliaStats ecosystem. Journal of Statistical Software. 2021 Jan 1;98:1u201330.
Vihani A, Nagai M, Juan C, de March C, Hu X, Pearson J, et al. Encoding of odors by mammalian olfactory receptors. 2021;
de Albuquerque D, Goffinet J, Wright R, Pearson J. Deep Generative Analysis for Task-Based Functional MRI Experiments. In: Proceedings of Machine Learning Research. 2021. p. 146u201375.
Michael V, Goffinet J, Pearson J, Wang F, Tschida K, Mooney R. Circuit and synaptic organization of forebrain-to-midbrain pathways that promote and suppress vocalization. Elife. 2020 Dec 29;9.
Mohl JT, Pearson JM, Groh JM. Monkeys and humans implement causal inference to simultaneously localize auditory and visual stimuli. J Neurophysiol. 2020 Sep 1;124(3):715u201327.
Draelos A, Naumann EA, Pearson JM. Online neural connectivity estimation with ensemble stimulation. 2020 Jul 27;
McDonald KR, Pearson JM, Huettel SA. Dorsolateral and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex track distinct properties of dynamic social behavior. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2020 Jun 23;15(4):383u201393.
Draelos A, Pearson JM. Online neural connectivity estimation with noisy group testing. In: Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems. 2020.
McDonald KR, Pearson JM. Cognitive bots and algorithmic humans: toward a shared understanding of social intelligence. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences. 2019 Oct 1;29:55u201362.
McDonald KR, Broderick WF, Huettel SA, Pearson JM. Bayesian nonparametric models characterize instantaneous strategies in a competitive dynamic game. Nat Commun. 2019 Apr 18;10(1):1808.
Iqbal SN, Yin L, Drucker CB, Kuang Q, Gariu00e9py J-F, Platt ML, et al. Latent goal models for dynamic strategic interaction. PLoS Comput Biol. 2019 Mar;15(3):e1006895.
Mohl J, Pearson J, Groh J. Monkeys and Humans Implement Causal Inference to Simultaneously Localize Auditory and Visual Stimuli. 2019;
Goffinet J, Brudner S, Mooney R, Pearson J. Low-dimensional learned feature spaces quantify individual and group differences in vocal repertoires. 2019;
Pearson JM, Law JR, Skene JAG, Beskind DH, Vidmar N, Ball DA, et al. Modelling the effects of crime type and evidence on judgments about guilt. Nat Hum Behav. 2018 Nov;2(11):856u201366.
Lighthall NR, Pearson JM, Huettel SA, Cabeza R. Feedback-Based Learning in Aging: Contributions and Trajectories of Change in Striatal and Hippocampal Systems. J Neurosci. 2018 Sep 26;38(39):8453u201362.
Pearson J. Queuing cues in rapid cortical processing. Nat Hum Behav. 2018 Sep;2(9):620u20131.
McDonald KR, Broderick WF, Huettel SA, Pearson JM. Bayesian Nonparametric Models Characterize Instantaneous Strategies in a Competitive Dynamic Game. 2018 Aug 5;
Addicott MA, Pearson JM, Sweitzer MM, Barack DL, Platt ML. A Primer on Foraging and the Explore/Exploit Trade-Off for Psychiatry Research. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Sep;42(10):1931u20139.
Chen X, Beck JM, Pearson JM. Neuron's eye view: Inferring features of complex stimuli from neural responses. PLoS Comput Biol. 2017 Aug;13(8):e1005645.
Dowd EW, Pearson JM, Egner T. Decoding working memory content from attentional biases. Psychon Bull Rev. 2017 Aug;24(4):1252u201360.
Iqbal S, Pearson J. A Goal-Based Movement Model for Continuous Multi-Agent Tasks. 2017 Feb 23;
Pearson JM, Hickey PT, Lad SP, Platt ML, Turner DA. Local Fields in Human Subthalamic Nucleus Track the Lead-up to Impulsive Choices. Front Neurosci. 2017;11:646.
San Martu00edn R, Kwak Y, Pearson JM, Woldorff MG, Huettel SA. Altruistic traits are predicted by neural responses to monetary outcomes for self vs charity. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2016 Jun;11(6):863u201376.
Platt ML, Pearson JM. Dopamine: Context and counterfactuals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Jan 5;113(1):22u20133.
Chang SWC, Fagan NA, Toda K, Utevsky AV, Pearson JM, Platt ML. Neural mechanisms of social decision-making in the primate amygdala. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Dec 29;112(52):16012u20137.
Addicott MA, Pearson JM, Kaiser N, Platt ML, McClernon FJ. Suboptimal foraging behavior: a new perspective on gambling. Behav Neurosci. 2015 Oct;129(5):656u201365.
Dowd EW, Pearson JM, Egner T. Mind-reading without the scanner: Behavioural decoding of working memory content. Visual Cognition. 2015 Aug 9;23(7):862u20136.
Addicott MA, Pearson JM, Froeliger B, Platt ML, McClernon FJ. Smoking automaticity and tolerance moderate brain activation during explore-exploit behavior. Psychiatry Res. 2014 Dec 30;224(3):254u201361.
Chang SWC, Brent LJN, Adams GK, Klein JT, Pearson JM, Watson KK, et al. Neuroethology of primate social behavior. In: In the Light of Evolution. 2014. p. 115u201334.
Pearson JM, Watson KK, Platt ML. Decision making: the neuroethological turn. Neuron. 2014 Jun 4;82(5):950u201365.
Jones SM, Pearson J, DeWind NK, Paulsen D, Tenekedjieva A-M, Brannon EM. Lemurs and macaques show similar numerical sensitivity. Anim Cogn. 2014 May;17(3):503u201315.
Ebitz RB, Pearson JM, Platt ML. Pupil size and social vigilance in rhesus macaques. Front Neurosci. 2014;8:100.
Kwak Y, Pearson J, Huettel SA. Differential reward learning for self and others predicts self-reported altruism. PLoS One. 2014;9(9):e107621.
Yorzinski JL, Patricelli GL, Babcock JS, Pearson JM, Platt ML. Erratum: Through their eyes: Selective attention in peahens during courtship (Journal of Experimental Biology 216 (3035-3046)). Journal of Experimental Biology. 2013 Nov 1;216(22):4310.
Blanchard TC, Pearson JM, Hayden BY. Postreward delays and systematic biases in measures of animal temporal discounting. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Sep 17;110(38):15491u20136.
Pearson JM, Platt ML. Dopamine: burning the candle at both ends. Neuron. 2013 Sep 4;79(5):831u20133.
Yorzinski JL, Patricelli GL, Babcock JS, Pearson JM, Platt ML. Through their eyes: selective attention in peahens during courtship. J Exp Biol. 2013 Aug 15;216(Pt 16):3035u201346.
Chang SWC, Brent LJN, Adams GK, Klein JT, Pearson JM, Watson KK, et al. Neuroethology of primate social behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jun 18;110 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):10387u201394.
San Martu00edn R, Appelbaum LG, Pearson JM, Huettel SA, Woldorff MG. Rapid brain responses independently predict gain maximization and loss minimization during economic decision making. J Neurosci. 2013 Apr 17;33(16):7011u20139.
Addicott MA, Pearson JM, Wilson J, Platt ML, McClernon FJ. Smoking and the bandit: a preliminary study of smoker and nonsmoker differences in exploratory behavior measured with a multiarmed bandit task. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2013 Feb;21(1):66u201373.
Pearson JM, Watson KK, Klein JT, Ebitz RB, Platt ML. Individual differences in social information gathering revealed through Bayesian hierarchical models. Front Neurosci. 2013;7:165.
Pearson JM, Platt ML. Change detection, multiple controllers, and dynamic environments: insights from the brain. J Exp Anal Behav. 2013 Jan;99(1):74u201384.
Adams GK, Watson KK, Pearson J, Platt ML. Neuroethology of decision-making. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2012 Dec;22(6):982u20139.
Pearson J, Platt ML. Dynamic decision making in the brain. Nat Neurosci. 2012 Feb 24;15(3):341u20132.
Hayden BY, Pearson JM, Platt ML. Neuronal basis of sequential foraging decisions in a patchy environment. Nat Neurosci. 2011 Jun 5;14(7):933u20139.
Pearson JM, Heilbronner SR, Barack DL, Hayden BY, Platt ML. Posterior cingulate cortex: adapting behavior to a changing world. Trends Cogn Sci. 2011 Apr;15(4):143u201351.
Hayden BY, Heilbronner SR, Pearson JM, Platt ML. Surprise signals in anterior cingulate cortex: neuronal encoding of unsigned reward prediction errors driving adjustment in behavior. J Neurosci. 2011 Mar 16;31(11):4178u201387.
Pearson JM, Hayden BY, Platt ML. A Role for Posterior Cingulate Cortex in Policy Switching and Cognitive Control. In: NEURAL BASIS OF MOTIVATIONAL AND COGNITIVE CONTROL. 2011. p. 127u201343.
Pearson JM, Hayden BY, Platt ML. Explicit information reduces discounting behavior in monkeys. Front Psychol. 2010;1:237.
Pearson J, Roitman JD, Brannon EM, Platt ML, Raghavachari S. A physiologically-inspired model of numerical classification based on graded stimulus coding. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience. 2010 Jan;4:1.
Pearson JM, Hayden BY, Raghavachari S, Platt ML. Neurons in posterior cingulate cortex signal exploratory decisions in a dynamic multioption choice task. Curr Biol. 2009 Sep 29;19(18):1532u20137.
Pearson J, Platt ML. Confidence and corrections: how we make and un-make up our minds. Neuron. 2009 Sep 24;63(6):724u20136.
Hayden BY, Pearson JM, Platt ML. Fictive reward signals in the anterior cingulate cortex. Science. 2009 May 15;324(5929):948u201350.
Watson KK, Platt ML. Neuroethology of reward and decision making. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2008 Dec 12;363(1511):3825u201335.
Pearson J, Spradlin M, Vaman D, Verlinde H, Volovich A. Tracing the string: BMN correspondence at finite J²/N. Journal of High Energy Physics. 2003 May 1;7(5):477u201387.
Kachru S, Pearson J, Verlinde H. Brane/flux annihilation and the string dual of a non-supersymmetric field theory. Journal of High Energy Physics. 2002 Jun 11;2002(06):021u2013021.
Kachru S, Pearson J, Verlinde H. Brane/flux annihilation and the string dual of a non-supersymmetric field theory. Journal of High Energy Physics. 2002 Jun 1;6(6):387u2013411.
Braaten E, Pearson J. Semiclassical corrections to the oscillation frequencies of a trapped bose-einstein condensate. Physical Review Letters. 1999 Jan 1;82(2):255u20138.

In The News

A Hit of Dopamine Tells Baby Birds When Their Song Practice Is Paying Off (Mar 25, 2025 | Duke Today)
School of Medicine Celebrates 2022 Faculty Achievement Awards (Apr 15, 2022 | School of Medicine)
Neuroscientists See How Practice Really Does Make Perfect (Oct 21, 2021 | )
Living Retina Achieves Sensitivity and Efficiency Engineers Can Only Dream About (Sep 28, 2021 | )
Why More Severe Crimes Are More Likely to Lead to Wrongful Convictions (Jul 24, 2019 | Duke Research Blog)
John Pearson: Data Explorer Inside the Brain (Oct 29, 2015 | )