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Neuroscience
USA
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Neuroscience 146 164 149 104 93 955 79023
Medicine 146 1340 1238 776 705 935 78900

Donald W. Pfaff publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Donald W. Pfaff between 1961 and 2025, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Donald W. Pfaff published across 65 years, from 1961 to 2025, averaging 15.2 papers a year. Output peaked at 45 publications in 2004. 1 of the 987 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
10 20 30 40
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1961 to 2025. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 45. Peak 45 publications in 2004. 1961: 1 publication 1962: 0 publications 1963: 0 publications 1964: 0 publications 1965: 1 publication 1966: 1 publication 1967: 0 publications 1968: 3 publications 1969: 3 publications 1970: 6 publications 1971: 7 publications 1972: 1 publication 1973: 5 publications 1974: 4 publications 1975: 9 publications 1976: 13 publications 1977: 11 publications 1978: 7 publications 1979: 15 publications 1980: 20 publications 1981: 15 publications 1982: 16 publications 1983: 17 publications 1984: 17 publications 1985: 21 publications 1986: 27 publications 1987: 29 publications 1988: 21 publications 1989: 32 publications 1990: 26 publications 1991: 24 publications 1992: 26 publications 1993: 21 publications 1994: 30 publications 1995: 14 publications 1996: 24 publications 1997: 12 publications 1998: 15 publications 1999: 13 publications 2000: 11 publications 2001: 16 publications 2002: 26 publications 2003: 24 publications 2004: 45 publications 2005: 26 publications 2006: 33 publications 2007: 24 publications 2008: 31 publications 2009: 24 publications 2010: 24 publications 2011: 19 publications 2012: 33 publications 2013: 21 publications 2014: 12 publications 2015: 23 publications 2016: 18 publications 2017: 17 publications 2018: 19 publications 2019: 8 publications 2020: 3 publications 2021: 11 publications 2022: 11 publications 2023: 0 publications 2024: 0 publications 2025: 1 publication
1961 2025

987 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Donald W. Pfaff: publications per year, 1961 to 2025
Year Publications
1961 1
1962 0
1963 0
1964 0
1965 1
1966 1
1967 0
1968 3
1969 3
1970 6
1971 7
1972 1
1973 5
1974 4
1975 9
1976 13
1977 11
1978 7
1979 15
1980 20
1981 15
1982 16
1983 17
1984 17
1985 21
1986 27
1987 29
1988 21
1989 32
1990 26
1991 24
1992 26
1993 21
1994 30
1995 14
1996 24
1997 12
1998 15
1999 13
2000 11
2001 16
2002 26
2003 24
2004 45
2005 26
2006 33
2007 24
2008 31
2009 24
2010 24
2011 19
2012 33
2013 21
2014 12
2015 23
2016 18
2017 17
2018 19
2019 8
2020 3
2021 11
2022 11
2023 0
2024 0
2025 1
Total 987
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Donald W. Pfaff publication distribution in Neuroscience in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Neuroscience in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Donald W. Pfaff sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300 400 500
Bar chart with 86 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 38–47 to 887+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 539. Most scientists, 539, have 98–107 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 887 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 887+ publications, is where this scientist sits. 38–47 publications: 18 scientists 48–57 publications: 79 scientists 58–67 publications: 193 scientists 68–77 publications: 323 scientists 78–87 publications: 406 scientists 88–97 publications: 452 scientists 98–107 publications: 539 scientists 108–117 publications: 505 scientists 118–127 publications: 522 scientists 128–137 publications: 469 scientists 138–147 publications: 456 scientists 148–157 publications: 459 scientists 158–167 publications: 397 scientists 168–177 publications: 383 scientists 178–187 publications: 350 scientists 188–197 publications: 302 scientists 198–207 publications: 306 scientists 208–217 publications: 262 scientists 218–227 publications: 242 scientists 228–237 publications: 220 scientists 238–247 publications: 203 scientists 248–257 publications: 174 scientists 258–267 publications: 176 scientists 268–277 publications: 175 scientists 278–287 publications: 125 scientists 288–297 publications: 116 scientists 298–307 publications: 127 scientists 308–317 publications: 128 scientists 318–327 publications: 99 scientists 328–337 publications: 89 scientists 338–347 publications: 78 scientists 348–357 publications: 96 scientists 358–367 publications: 66 scientists 368–377 publications: 59 scientists 378–387 publications: 65 scientists 388–397 publications: 54 scientists 398–407 publications: 48 scientists 408–417 publications: 49 scientists 418–427 publications: 34 scientists 428–437 publications: 31 scientists 438–447 publications: 30 scientists 448–457 publications: 31 scientists 458–467 publications: 36 scientists 468–477 publications: 40 scientists 478–487 publications: 35 scientists 488–497 publications: 30 scientists 498–507 publications: 23 scientists 508–517 publications: 26 scientists 518–527 publications: 20 scientists 528–537 publications: 23 scientists 538–547 publications: 20 scientists 548–557 publications: 20 scientists 558–567 publications: 17 scientists 568–577 publications: 14 scientists 578–587 publications: 20 scientists 588–597 publications: 20 scientists 598–607 publications: 19 scientists 608–617 publications: 18 scientists 618–627 publications: 17 scientists 628–637 publications: 11 scientists 638–647 publications: 11 scientists 648–657 publications: 11 scientists 658–667 publications: 8 scientists 668–677 publications: 7 scientists 678–687 publications: 11 scientists 688–697 publications: 10 scientists 698–707 publications: 4 scientists 708–717 publications: 6 scientists 718–727 publications: 5 scientists 728–737 publications: 5 scientists 738–747 publications: 9 scientists 748–757 publications: 9 scientists 758–767 publications: 3 scientists 768–777 publications: 7 scientists 778–787 publications: 7 scientists 788–797 publications: 6 scientists 798–807 publications: 2 scientists 808–817 publications: 2 scientists 818–827 publications: 7 scientists 828–837 publications: 0 scientists 838–847 publications: 9 scientists 848–857 publications: 3 scientists 858–867 publications: 1 scientist 868–877 publications: 3 scientists 878–886 publications: 6 scientists 887+ publications: 100 scientists
38–47 publications 887+

This scientist: 955 publications — 99th percentile

99% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 887 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Neuroscience scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,597 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
38–47 18
48–57 79
58–67 193
68–77 323
78–87 406
88–97 452
98–107 539
108–117 505
118–127 522
128–137 469
138–147 456
148–157 459
158–167 397
168–177 383
178–187 350
188–197 302
198–207 306
208–217 262
218–227 242
228–237 220
238–247 203
248–257 174
258–267 176
268–277 175
278–287 125
288–297 116
298–307 127
308–317 128
318–327 99
328–337 89
338–347 78
348–357 96
358–367 66
368–377 59
378–387 65
388–397 54
398–407 48
408–417 49
418–427 34
428–437 31
438–447 30
448–457 31
458–467 36
468–477 40
478–487 35
488–497 30
498–507 23
508–517 26
518–527 20
528–537 23
538–547 20
548–557 20
558–567 17
568–577 14
578–587 20
588–597 20
598–607 19
608–617 18
618–627 17
628–637 11
638–647 11
648–657 11
658–667 8
668–677 7
678–687 11
688–697 10
698–707 4
708–717 6
718–727 5
728–737 5
738–747 9
748–757 9
758–767 3
768–777 7
778–787 7
788–797 6
798–807 2
808–817 2
818–827 7
828–837 0
838–847 9
848–857 3
858–867 1
868–877 3
878–886 6
887+ 100 955
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Donald W. Pfaff D-index placement in Neuroscience in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Neuroscience scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Donald W. Pfaff sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300 400 500
Bar chart with 68 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 30–31 to 163+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 512. Most scientists, 512, have 46–47 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 163 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 146–147 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 30–31 D-Index: 42 scientists 32–33 D-Index: 172 scientists 34–35 D-Index: 296 scientists 36–37 D-Index: 435 scientists 38–39 D-Index: 459 scientists 40–41 D-Index: 456 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 467 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 478 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 512 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 435 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 425 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 418 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 392 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 357 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 334 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 328 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 260 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 278 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 239 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 250 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 210 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 200 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 189 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 170 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 146 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 113 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 126 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 100 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 84 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 99 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 84 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 85 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 72 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 76 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 45 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 49 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 43 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 32 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 45 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 50 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 32 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 39 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 32 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 29 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 27 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 19 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 23 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 27 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 16 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 24 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 13 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 21 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 17 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 14 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 15 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 10 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 10 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 13 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 9 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 8 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 6 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 6 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 7 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 7 scientists 158–159 D-Index: 10 scientists 160–161 D-Index: 4 scientists 162 D-Index: 8 scientists 163+ D-Index: 100 scientists
30–31 D-Index 163+

This scientist: 146 D-Index — 98th percentile

98% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 163 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Neuroscience scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,597 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
30–31 42
32–33 172
34–35 296
36–37 435
38–39 459
40–41 456
42–43 467
44–45 478
46–47 512
48–49 435
50–51 425
52–53 418
54–55 392
56–57 357
58–59 334
60–61 328
62–63 260
64–65 278
66–67 239
68–69 250
70–71 210
72–73 200
74–75 189
76–77 170
78–79 146
80–81 113
82–83 126
84–85 100
86–87 84
88–89 99
90–91 84
92–93 85
94–95 72
96–97 76
98–99 45
100–101 49
102–103 43
104–105 32
106–107 45
108–109 50
110–111 32
112–113 39
114–115 32
116–117 29
118–119 27
120–121 19
122–123 23
124–125 27
126–127 16
128–129 24
130–131 13
132–133 21
134–135 17
136–137 14
138–139 15
140–141 10
142–143 10
144–145 13
146–147 9 146
148–149 8
150–151 6
152–153 6
154–155 7
156–157 7
158–159 10
160–161 4
162 8
163+ 100
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Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Neuroscience in United States Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Neuroscience in United States Leader Award
  • 1994 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 1992 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Overview

Donald W. Pfaff is affiliated with Rockefeller University in the United States and has contributed extensively to the fields of neuroscience, psychology, and biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Their research spans several subfields such as cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, cellular and molecular neuroscience, molecular biology, and experimental and cognitive psychology.

Their work focuses on key topics including neural dynamics and brain function, neuroendocrine regulation and behavior, animal behavior and reproduction, sleep and wakefulness research, neuroscience and neuropharmacology research, memory and neural mechanisms, and zebrafish biomedical research applications.

Pfaff's recent publications include:

  • "Triphenyl phosphate permeates the blood brain barrier and induces neurotoxicity in mouse brain," 2020, Chemosphere
  • "Fish as a model in social neuroscience: conservation and diversity in the social brain network," 2021, Biological Reviews/Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
  • "Abolition of male sexual behaviors in mice lacking estrogen receptors alpha and beta (alpha beta ERKO)," 2021, UNC Libraries
  • "Temporal relations between peripheral and central arousals in good and poor sleepers," 2022, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • "Sexual motivation: problem solved and new problems introduced," 2020, Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation

Their frequent co-authors include Lee-Ming Kow, Hagar Kandel, Murat Kılınç, Martin A. Daniels, and Ana María Magariños.

Donald W. Pfaff has published in various scientific venues such as:

  • Chemosphere
  • Biological Reviews/Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • UNC Libraries
  • Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation

Pfaff is also an author of the book Laws of Human Behavior, expected to be published by The MIT Press in 2025.

The scientist has been recognized with several awards, including election as a Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1994 and as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1992.

Best Publications

  • Atlas of estradiol-concentrating cells in the central nervous system of the female rat.

    Donald Pfaff;Melvyn Keiner

  • Long-term gene expression and phenotypic correction using adeno-associated virus vectors in the mammalian brain

    Michael G. Kaplitt;Paola Leone;Richard J. Samulski;Xiao Xiao

  • Relationship of arousal to circadian anticipatory behavior: ventromedial hypothalamus: one node in a hunger-arousal network.

    Ana C. Ribeiro;Joseph LeSauter;Christophe Dupré;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Origin of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone neurons.

    Marlene Schwanzel-Fukuda;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Hormones, brain, and behavior

    Donald W. Pfaff;Arthur P. Arnold;Anne M. Etgen;Susan E. Fahrbach

  • Catechol-O-methyltransferase-deficient mice exhibit sexually dimorphic changes in catecholamine levels and behavior

    Joseph A. Gogos;Maria Morgan;Victoria Luine;Miklos Santha

  • Immunolocalization of estrogen receptor β in the mouse brain: Comparison with estrogen receptor α

    Sudha Warrier Mitra;Elena Hoskin;Joel Yudkovitz;Lisset Pear

  • Estrogens and brain function

    Donald W. Pfaff

  • Connections of the median and dorsal raphe nuclei in the rat: an autoradiographic and degeneration study.

    Lily C. A. Conrad;Christiana M. Leonard;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-expressing cells do not migrate normally in an inherited hypogonadal (Kallmann) syndrome

    Marlene Schwanzel-Fukuda;David Bick;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Roles of estrogen receptor-alpha gene expression in reproduction-related behaviors in female mice.

    Sonoko Ogawa;Vincent Eng;Julia Taylor;Dennis B. Lubahn

  • Absence of oestradiol concentration in cell nuclei of LHRH-immunoreactive neurones

    B. D. Shivers;R. E. Harlan;J. I. Morrell;D. W. Pfaff

  • Luteinizing hormone-releasing factor potentiates lordosis behavior in hypophysectomized ovariectomized female rats.

    Donald W. Pfaff

  • THE BRAIN AS A TARGET FOR STEROID HORMONE ACTION

    Bruce S. McEwen;Paula G. Davis;Bruce Parsons;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Deconstructing and Reconstructing Theory of Mind

    Sara M. Schaafsma;Donald W. Pfaff;Robert P. Spunt;Ralph Adolphs

  • Silencing of estrogen receptor α in the ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus leads to metabolic syndrome

    Sergei Musatov;Walter Chen;Donald W. Pfaff;Charles V. Mobbs

  • Behavioral effects of estrogen receptor gene disruption in male mice

    Sonoko Ogawa;Dennis B. Lubahn;Kenneth S. Korach;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Efferents from medial basal forebrain and hypothalamus in the rat. II. An autoradiographic study of the anterior hypothalamus.

    Lily C. A. Conrad;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of magnocellular elements in rat hypothalamus: Distribution and numbers of cells containing neurophysin, oxytocin, and vasopressin

    C. H. Rhodes;J. I. Morriell;D. W. Pfaff

  • Efferents from medial basal forebrain and hypothalamus in the rat. I. An autoradiographic study of the medial preoptic area

    Lily C. A. Conrad;Donald W. Pfaff

Frequent Co-Authors

Lee-Ming Kow
Lee-Ming Kow Rockefeller University
Bruce S. McEwen
Bruce S. McEwen Rockefeller University
Elena Choleris
Elena Choleris University of Guelph
Robert T. Rubin
Robert T. Rubin University of California, Los Angeles
Kenneth S. Korach
Kenneth S. Korach National Institutes of Health
Martin Kavaliers
Martin Kavaliers University of Western Ontario
Jessica A. Mong
Jessica A. Mong University of Maryland, Baltimore
Susan E. Fahrbach
Susan E. Fahrbach Wake Forest University
Jan-Åke Gustafsson
Jan-Åke Gustafsson University of Houston
Anders Ågmo
Anders Ågmo University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway

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