Duke Institute for Brain Sciences

I conduct research concerning the neurobehavioral bases of cognitive, emotional and addictive function in rat, mouse and zebrafish models. The basic focus of my research is to understand the functional interactions of cholinergic systems with brain stem monoaminergic projections to the limbic system, cortex and thalamus, with recent forays into analysis of GABA/glutamate interactions as well. With acute and chronic local infusions of receptor agonists and antagonists in behaving animals we can explore the geography of interacting neural systems underlying these behavioral functions. We also study developmental aspects of drug and toxicant response with studies of the persisting behavioral impairments after in utero and postnatal pesticide and heavy metal exposure as well as studies of the vulnerability of adolescents to the onset of drug self-administration. The two applications of our basic focus are neurobehavioral toxicology and therapeutic drug development.

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles, 1985-1986

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Environmental Toxicology, 1984

M.S., University of Wisconsin, Physiological Psychology, 1982

B.A., University of Rochester, Psychology, 1976

Levin ED, A Petro, N Pollard, NC Christopher, M Strauss, J Avery, J Nicholson, AH Rezvani and JE Rose. Nicotinic α7 or β2-containing receptor knockout: effects on radial-arm maze learning and long-term nicotine consumption in mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 196:207-213, 2009.

Eddins D, RC Klein, JL Yakel and ED Levin. Hippocampal infusions of apolipoprotein E peptides induce long-lasting cognitive impairment. Brain Research Bulletin, 79:111-115, 2009.

Eddins D, P Williams, DT Cerutti and ED Levin. Nicotine effects on learning in zebrafish: The role of dopamine systems. Psychopharmacology, 202:103-109, 2009.