Soto, Paul Levi, Ph.D.

Education

Professional Interests

I am interested in behavioral pharmacology and behavioral neuroscience.  My research has focused on the role of brain dopamine and GABA systems in behavior. I am currently working on two lines of research. One line of research is focused on understanding the role of dopamine receptors in mediating reinforcing effects of stimuli and the second line of research is focused on identification of drugs that may improve memory via their actions at GABA receptors.

Selected Publications

Soto PL, Grandy DK, Hursh SR, Katz JL (2011). Assessment of dopamine D₂ receptor function in the reinforcing effects of food: behavioral economics and the effects of prefeeding, extinction, and eticlopride in knockout mice.  Psychopharmacology. .

Hiranita T, Soto PL, Tanda G, Katz JL (2010). Reinforcing effects of σ-receptor agonists in rats trained to self-administer cocaine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 332:515-24.

Soto PL, Hiranita T, Katz JL (2009). Citalopram enhances cocaine’s subjective effects in rats.  Behavioural Pharmacology, 20:759-62.

Soto PL, Katz JL (2009). Fluoxetine does not alter the ability of dopamine D1- and D2-like agonists to substitute for cocaine in squirrel monkeys..  Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 92:219-23.

Hiranita T, Soto PL, Newman AH, Katz JL (2009). Assessment of reinforcing effects of benztropine analogues and their effects on cocaine self-administration in rats: Comparisons with monoamine uptake inhibitors. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 329:677-86.