Leptin: A Protective Factor Against Cocaine Addiction Cocaine doesn't just affect the brain's reward system—it also dramatically alters appetite, metabolism, and body weight. We investigated whether leptin, a hormone that regulates both feeding and reward, might play a role in vulnerability to cocaine addiction. Using samples from the Cocaine Biobank and genetically diverse rats, we discovered that leptin may be a protective factor against developing addiction-like behaviors.

Alcohol addiction hijacks the brain's stress systems, making withdrawal feel unbearable and driving continued drinking. We investigated whether a brain chemical called hypocretin/orexin—which plays key roles in both stress and reward—might be a promising target for treating alcohol dependence. This work was conducted in collaboration with the Schmeichel Lab. The Research Question We wanted to understand whether blocking different types of hypocretin receptors (called HCRT-R1

Flip through any neuroscience journal and you'll notice something striking: the same brain regions appear over and over again. The hippocampus, the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex—these are neuroscience's greatest hits. But what about the rest of the brain? We analyzed 197 brain regions and found that just 9 regions account for 75% of published research, while the remaining 188 regions represent only 25% of studies. That's a problem. The Research Question We wanted to explore