Selected Publications:

Matsumura, K., Choi, I. B., Asokan, M., Le, N. N., Natividad, L., & Dobbs, L. K. (2023). Striatal enkephalin supports maintenance of conditioned cocaine reward during extinction. BioRxiv: The Preprint Server For Biology 2023; 2023.02.23.529807.

Dai, K. Z., Choi, I. B., Levitt, R., Blegen, M. B., Kaplan, A. R., Matsui, A., Shin, J. H., Bocarsly, M. E., Simpson, E. H., Kellendonk, C., Alvarez, V. A., & Dobbs, L. K. Dopamine D2 receptors bidirectionally regulate striatal enkephalin expression: Implications for cocaine reward. Cell Reports 2022; 40(13): 111440.

Dobbs, L. K., & Morikawa, H. Biasing Neurotensin Receptor Signaling to Arrest Psychostimulant Abuse. Cell 2020; 181(6): 1205–1206.

Dobbs, L.K., Kaplan, A.R., Bock, R., Phamluong, K., Shin, J.H., Bocarsly, M.E., Eberhart, L., Ron, D. & Alvarez, V.A.  D1 receptor hypersensitivity in mice with low striatal D2 receptors facilitates select cocaine behaviors. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2019; 44:805-816.

Bocarsly, M. E., da Silva E Silva, D., Kolb, V., Luderman, K. D., Shashikiran, S., Rubinstein, M., Sibley, D. R., Dobbs, L. K., & Alvarez, V. A. A Mechanism Linking Two Known Vulnerability Factors for Alcohol Abuse: Heightened Alcohol Stimulation and Low Striatal Dopamine D2 Receptors. Cell Reports 2019; 29(5): 1147–1163.e5.

Dobbs L.K.*, Lemos*, J.C., & Alvarez V.A. Restructuring basal ganglia circuitry and associated behaviors triggered by low striatal D2 receptor expression: implications for substance use disorders. Genes, Brain, and Behavior 2017; 16(1): 56-70. Review.  *authors contributed equally

Dobbs, L.K., Kaplan, A.R., Lemos, J.C., Matsui, A., Rubinstein, M. and Alvarez, V.A. Dopamine regulation of lateral inhibition between striatal neurons gates the stimulant actions of cocaine.  Neuron 2016; 90(5):  1100-13.

Dobbs, L. K. & Cunningham, C. L. The role of the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus in methamphetamine conditioned place preference and locomotor activity.  Behavioural Brain Research 2014; 265: 198-202.

Shabani, S., Dobbs, L. K., Ford, M. M., Mark, G. P., Finn, D. A., & Phillips T. J.  A genetic animal model of differential sensitivity to methamphetamine reinforcement.  Neuropharmacology 2012; 62(7):  2168-2176.

Dobbs, L. K. & Mark, G. P. Acetylcholine from the mesopontine tegmental nuclei differentially affects methamphetamine induced locomotor activity and neurotransmitter levels in the mesolimbic pathway. Behavioural Brain Research 2012; 226(1): 224-234.

Mark, G. P., Shabani, S., Dobbs, L. K., & Hansen, S.T. Cholinergic modulation of mesolimbic dopamine function and reward. Physiology & Behavior 2011; 104(1):  76-81. Review.

Holstein, S. E., Dobbs, L. & Phillips, T. J. Attenuation of the stimulant response to ethanol is associated with enhanced ataxia for a GABA_A, but not a GABA_B, receptor agonist.  Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 2009; 33(1):  108-120.

Dobbs, L. K. & Mark, G. P. Comparison of systemic and local methamphetamine treatment on acetylcholine and dopamine levels in the ventral tegmental area in the mouse.  Neuroscience 2008; 156(3):  700-711.