Carlos Bolaños

Dr. Carlos Bolaños is a Professor at Texas A&M University's Department of Psychology and a Naomi Lewis Endowed Faculty Fellow. His research focuses on the causal relationships between early-life experiences, brain biochemistry, and behavior, particularly examining how psychotropic drugs and stress impact mood and motivated behaviors. Affiliated with the Institute for Neuroscience, he investigates neurodevelopmental consequences of drug exposure and stress, emphasizing translational research for therapeutic development.

His work employs animal models (e.g., mice) to study mechanisms underlying addiction, mood disorders, and stress resilience. Notable recent studies include investigations into ketamine's prophylactic effects, benzodiazepine misuse, and the role of astrocyte genes in stress susceptibility. He has published extensively on topics such as ERK2 signaling in stress responses, alprazolam's long-term effects, and the neurobiology of reward circuits.

Dr. Bolaños' research integrates pharmacological, genetic, and behavioral approaches, with a focus on sex-specific differences and developmental trajectories. His contributions have advanced understanding of how early-life interventions (e.g., drug exposure) shape adult neurobehavioral outcomes.

He is not currently accepting students for 2024-2025, though past work includes mentoring on projects linking neuroplasticity and mental health. His lab collaborates with the Institute for Neuroscience to explore novel therapeutic targets for stress and addiction-related disorders.