Ruth I. Wood

Ruth I. Wood is Professor of Integrative Anatomical Sciences and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at USC. Her research investigates neural circuits for social behavior, addiction, and steroid hormone actions, focusing on anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse mechanisms and hormonal modulation of cooperative behavior.

Key findings demonstrate testosterone self-administration in rodents, AAS disruption of decision-making, and oxytocin/prolactin promotion of prosocial behaviors. Research utilizes operant models for risk assessment, cooperation studies, and neurochemical analyses.

Education includes relevant doctoral training. Professional roles:

• Director, Neuroscience Graduate Program
• Research on steroid reinforcement pathways
• Development of Prisoner's Dilemma models in rodents
• Analysis of AAS effects on dendritic morphology

Current projects examine hippocampal oxytocin in prosocial eating, developmental steroid exposure impacts, and hormonal influences on economic decision-making.