John Smythies is a neuroscientist and neuropsychiatrist with academic degrees in medicine, neuroanatomy, and psychology from Cambridge. He is currently at the Center for Brain and Cognition at U.C.S.D. and at the Institute of Neurology, University College, London. He has served as President of the International Society for Psychoneuroendocrinology (1972-1976), as a Consultant to the World Health Organization (1963-1968) and as Editor of the International Review of Neurobiology from 1958-1991. He has written extensively on subjects related to neuroscience and consciousness including his recent books "The Walls of Plato's Cave" and "The Dynamic Neuron" (MIT Press).

John Smythies is one of the originators and supporters of the theories expressed in the Smythies-Carr Hypothosis camp which is a supporting sub camp of the consciousness is representational and real camp.