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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