Bruce Luber, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Dr. Bruce Luber is a Staff Scientist in the Noninvasive Neuromodulation Unit

Dr. Bruce Luber received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from NYU in 1993, using magnetoencephalography (MEG) to study visual attention. He did his post-doc work at Columbia University using electroencephalography (EEG) to study the effects of ECT, and also helped develop multivariate topographic analysis of EEG to study visual memory processing. He was later an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Co-Director of the Noninvasive Neuromodulation Lab at Columbia. He then moved to Duke University, where he was Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and of Psychology and Neuroscience, and directed the Noninvasive Neuromodulation Lab there before moving to the NIMH. Dr. Luber has spent the last twenty-six years conducting brain stimulation research into the treatment of depression, as well as into the neurophysiological bases of cognition and perception, especially in relation to cognitive decline in aging. Much of his research has involved using TMS to explore the cortical mechanisms of working memory, executive function, self-related processing, and visual processing, and has focused on using noninvasive brain stimulation to enhance neural processing, with the goal of developing treatments for cognitive deficits and decline.

Selected Publications

Using diffusion tensor imaging to effectively target TMS to deep brain structures. Luber, B†, Davis, SW†, Deng, Z-D, Murphy, D, Martella, A, Peterchev, AV, Lisanby, SH. 2021. Neuroimage. PMID: 34974116

Using transcranial magnetic stimulation to test a network model of perceptual decision making in the human brain. Luber, B, Jangraw, DC, Appelbaum, G, Harrison, A, Hilbig, S, Beynel, L, Jones, T, Sajda, P, Lisanby, SH. 2020. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. PMID: 32038206

The Dynamic Duo: Combining noninvasive brain stimulation with cognitive interventions. Sathappan, A, Luber, B, Lisanby, SH. 2018. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry.

Using neuroimaging to individualize TMS treatment for depression: Toward a new paradigm for imaging-guided intervention. Luber, B, Davis, S, Bernhardt, E, Neacsiu, A, Kwapil, L, Strauman, TJ, and Lisanby, SH. 2017. NeuroImage.

Enhancement of human cognitive performance using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Luber, B & Lisanby, SH. 2014. NeuroImage.

Extended remediation of sleep deprived-induced working memory deficits using fMRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation. Luber, B, Steffener, J, Tucker, A, Habeck, C, Peterchev, AP, Deng, Z-D, Basner, RC, Stern, Y, & Lisanby, SH. 2013. Sleep.

Self-enhancement processing in the default network: a single-pulse TMS study. Luber, B, Lou, H, Keenan, JP, and Lisanby, SH. 2012. Experimental Brain Research.