Rita Fuchs Lokensgard
Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience (Pullman) – Departmental Page
ritafuchs@vetmed.wsu.edu – Rita Fuchs Lokensgard
Psychostimulant Addiction
Chemical Measurement in Addiction
Neural Plasticity and Memory/Addiction
Environmental stimuli orchestrate adaptive behaviors, cognition, and physiological functions in healthy individuals. Similarly, drug-associated environmental stimuli trigger intense drug-related memories and precipitate drug craving, impulsive decision making, and even immunosuppression in substance abusers. NIH-funded research in my laboratory has focused on demonstrating empirically the existence of some of these drug context-induced phenomena through the development and implementation of novel animal models. We now aim to elucidate the neural underpinnings of these phenomena and to inform the development of treatment strategies that promote recovery from drug dependence and preempt the long-term health consequences of drug addiction.
