Seymour Levine
Research Professor, Psychology,
Director of Neuroscience Program
Ph.D., New York University, 1952
glevine@udel.edu
Department of Psychology
Phone: (302) 831-3311: Office
Office: Room 218 Wolf Hall: 831-8088: Lab (302) 831-3645:
Fax
Research Interests
The major focus of this laboratory is the study of developmental issues
from the perspective of Psychobiology. More specifically we have focused
on the effects of the mother on development of the regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal
(HPA) axis which controls the secretion of stress related hormones. Further
we are interested in the long term biobehavioral consequences of experimental
manipulations of mother-infant interactions on the activity of the neuroendocrine
systems involved in the response to stress and in behaviors that reflect
fear and anxiety in adult laboratory animals. Our studies utilize a broad
spectrum of methodologies ranging from molecular biology, endocrinology,
and behavior. Currently we are examining the changes that occur in the
brains of the neonatal rat following exposure to different types of stress
experiences. We are studying c-fos protein using immunocytochemistry, mRNA
for CRF and vasopressin, and mRNA for the glucocorticoid receptors. The
interest in the ontogeny of the stress response stems from a phenomena
seen in development called "the Stress Hyporesponsive Period (SHRP)." Originally
it was believed that the infant rat showed a markedly diminished endocrine
response to stress. Subsequent research has shown that this pattern can
be modified by interrupting the mother-infant relationship and previously
non-responsive infants now show a pronounced response to stress. Further,
the response to stress seems to be stimulus specific. One of our major
projects is examining the brain mechanisms which are inhibited by maternal
contact. However, we are expanding our research efforts to examine the
long term effects of early experiences on the neural circuits regulating
fear. These studies are being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Jeffrey
Rosen, a new member of the Psychology Department and the Neuroscience Program.
This laboratory is relatively new and has been established during the past
year following my arrival in Delaware after my retirement from Stanford
University, Department of Psychiatry. The laboratory consists of Helga
van Oers, a post-doctoral fellow from the Netherlands, Gersham Dent, a
third year graduate student in the Neuroscience Program, Kathleen Gordon,
a first year graduate student in Neuroscience, and Tara Whelan, Research
Associate. Insofar as we are a newly established laboratory the equipment
and the techniques represents the state of the art. My interests in developmental
psychobiology span over four decades. The problems related to development
have never ceased to intrigue me and with new molecular technology we can
begin to understand the dynamic changes in the brain that occur during
development.
Recent Publications
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Levine, S., Berkenbosch, F., Suchecki, D., & Tilders, F. J. H. (1994).
Pituitary-adrenal and interleukin-6 responses to recombinant interleukin-1
in neonatal rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology 19(2):143-153.
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Lyons, D. M., & Levine, S. (1994). Socioregulatory effects on squirrel
monkey pituitary-adrenal activity: A longitudinal analysis of cortisol
and ACTH. Psychoneuroendocrinology 19(3): 283-291.
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Romero, L. M., Levine, S., & Sapolsky, R. M. (1995). Patterns of adrenocorticotropin
secretagog release in response to social interactions and various degrees
of novelty. Psychoneuroendocrinology 20(2):183-191.
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Suchecki, D., Nelson, D. Y., van Oers, H., & Levine, S. (1995). Activation
and inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of the neonatal
rat: Effects of maternal deprivation. Psychoneuroendocrinology,
20:169-182.
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