One decade ago, our laboratory provided the first direct evidence linking orexin/hypocretin
signaling with drug seeking by showing that activation of these neurons promotes …

Orexins (also known as hypocretins) are neuropeptides located exclusively in hypothalamic
neurons that have extensive projections throughout the central nervous system and bind two …

Lifetime relapse rates remain a major obstacle in addressing the current opioid crisis.
Relapse to opioid use can be modeled in rodent studies where drug self-administration is …

Orexins comprise two neuropeptides produced by orexin neurons in the lateral
hypothalamus and are released by extensive projections of these neurons throughout the …

In humans, early-life adversity (ELA) such as trauma, poverty, and chaotic environment is
linked to increased risk of later-life emotional disorders including depression and substance …

The orexin (hypocretin) system plays a critical role in motivated drug taking. Cocaine self‐
administration with the intermittent access (IntA) procedure produces a robust addiction‐like …

Background The prevalence of eating disorders, including binge eating disorder, is
significantly higher in women. These findings are mirrored by preclinical studies, which …

Background Evidence indicates that oxytocin, an endogenous peptide well known for its role
in social behaviors, childbirth, and lactation, is a promising addiction pharmacotherapy. We …

Abstract Rationale Intermittent Access (IntA) cocaine self-administration, which models
intermittent patterns of cocaine use in humans during the transition to addiction, is especially …

The origins and neural bases of the current opioid addiction epidemic are unclear. Genetics
plays a major role in addiction vulnerability, but cannot account for the recent exponential …