Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos

Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos (born 1962) is a Greek-American computational neuroscientist. He is the A. J. Carlson Professor in the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago.

He is known for his research on neural decoding for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). This includes a 2002 demonstration of instant neural control of a computer cursor by monkeys and his role in developing the technology used in the first human clinical trials of the BrainGate system for people with paralysis.

His broader research examines the neural basis of motor control and learning, focusing on patterns of neuronal activity in the motor cortex. In 2001 he co-founded Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems to advance neural prosthesis technologies.

Early life and education Born in 1962 in Boston, Massachusetts, Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos is the son of George and Daphne Hatsopoulos. He completed a B.A. in Physics cum laude at Williams College in 1984. Between 1984 and 1987 he worked as a research assistant at Harvard University. He went on to graduate studies at Brown University, earning an Sc.M. in Psychology in 1991 and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science in 1992. He co-founded Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems in 2001 and sat on its board of directors. Work from his group indicates that motor cortex neurons display activity patterns during observed movements that parallel those seen during performed movements. Laboratory studies have further shown that single neurons can represent discrete segments of movement trajectories - termed "pathlets" by the researchers.

Additional research from the lab has addressed beta-range oscillatory activity in the motor cortex and its connection to movement-related information. Later projects have explored how propagating patterns of neural activity - such as changes in beta amplitude and high-gamma signals - relate to the initiation of movement and to kinematic features.

Neural interface systems Hatsopoulos has contributed to the development of neural interface systems that decode motor cortex signals to operate external devices. In experiments with monkeys, his team helped demonstrate that animals could learn to control a computer cursor through neural activity after only brief training.

Other contributions Hatsopoulos is co-author of the textbook MATLAB for Neuroscientists: An Introduction to Scientific Computing in MATLAB (first and second editions), written for students in neuroscience.

Awards and honors 2016: Faculty Award for Excellence in PhD Teaching and Mentoring, University of Chicago 2024: Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, University of Chicago 2002: Brain Research Foundation Scientific Innovations Award (Seed Grant)