David Wolgin

David Wolgin is a Professor at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University, specializing in behavioral neuroscience and psychopharmacology. His research examines drug tolerance mechanisms, particularly contingent tolerance to psychostimulants like amphetamine and cocaine, with emphasis on basal ganglia function and behavioral learning processes.

His academic background includes:

• M.A. from Vanderbilt University
• Ph.D. from Rutgers University
• Postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Illinois

Dr. Wolgin's core research explores drug tolerance through the lens of instrumental learning and environmental context. His work demonstrates that tolerance to amphetamine-induced hypophagia and stereotypy is not merely pharmacological but critically dependent on behavioral contingencies. Key investigations include the role of the basal ganglia in response selection/inhibition, microstructural analysis of feeding behavior, and neural correlates (e.g., c-fos expression) associated with contingent tolerance. This research bridges behavioral psychology and neuropharmacology to understand addiction mechanisms.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (1995-2012) reveals consistent focus on behavioral mechanisms of tolerance, with recurring themes of context-dependent expression, long-term retention, and instrumental learning in drug adaptation. His work establishes that tolerance develops through learned behavioral suppression rather than purely neuroadaptive processes, with significant implications for addiction treatment.

No scientific awards were mentioned in the source material.

While specific advising details are absent, his research program inherently involves training students in behavioral neuroscience methodologies. The publications indicate collaboration with researchers like K.M. Hughes and J.J. Jakubow, suggesting mentorship in experimental design and data analysis for rodent models of drug effects.

His laboratory work centers on rodent behavioral paradigms examining feeding microstructure, stereotypy suppression, and neural correlates of drug tolerance, utilizing techniques including real-time movement analysis and molecular markers like c-fos mRNA expression in basal ganglia circuits.