World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
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Howard L. Fields

D-Index & Metrics

Medicine

D-Index
122
Citations
52913
World Ranking
3489
National Ranking
1919

Neuroscience

D-Index
122
Citations
52923
World Ranking
367
National Ranking
221

Howard L. Fields 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 Howard L. Fields sits on this spectrum.

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 scientists 868–877 publications: 3 scientists 878–886 publications: 6 scientists 887+ publications: 100 scientists
38 publications 887+

This scientist: 322 publications — 85th percentile

85% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Howard L. Fields 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 Howard L. Fields sits on this spectrum.

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 D-Index 163+

This scientist: 122 D-Index — 96th percentile

96% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2010 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 1998 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1997 - Member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)

Overview

Howard L. Fields is affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco in the United States. Their research primarily spans the fields of Medicine and Neuroscience, with a focus on subfields including Physiology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Pharmacology, and Cognitive Neuroscience.

Their research topics cover a range of areas related to pain and its mechanisms, including:

  • Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
  • Pain Management and Placebo Effect
  • Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
  • Pain Management and Treatment
  • Pain Management and Opioid Use
  • Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Recent publications from Howard L. Fields include:

  • "Pain modulates dopamine neurons via a spinal-parabrachial-mesencephalic circuit," 2021, Nature Neuroscience
  • "The prolactin receptor long isoform regulates nociceptor sensitization and opioid-induced hyperalgesia selectively in females," 2020, Science Translational Medicine
  • "Research design considerations for randomized controlled trials of spinal cord stimulation for pain: Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials/Institute of Neuromodulation/International Neuromodulation Society recommendations," 2021, Pain
  • "Onset hyperalgesia and offset analgesia: Transient increases or decreases of noxious thermal stimulus intensity robustly modulate subsequent perceived pain intensity," 2020, PLoS ONE
  • "Immediate Reward Bias in Humans: Fronto-Parietal Networks and a Role for the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase 158Val/Val Genotype," 2021, UNC Libraries

Frequent co-authors associated with their work include:

  • Charlotte A. Boettiger
  • Mark D'Esposito
  • Nathaniel P. Katz
  • Robert H. Dworkin
  • Richard B. North

Howard L. Fields has published frequently in the following venues:

  • Pain
  • UNC Libraries
  • Nature Neuroscience
  • Science Translational Medicine
  • PLoS ONE

The scientist's work includes contributions to a range of studies addressing pain mechanisms, opioid use, and neurophysiological processes related to pain perception and treatment. They have been recognized by several professional bodies, holding fellowships and memberships such as:

  • Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2010)
  • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (1998)
  • Member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) (1997)

Best Publications

  • Endogenous pain control systems: brainstem spinal pathways and endorphin circuitry.

    Allan I. Basbaum;Howard L. Fields

  • Endogenous pain control mechanisms: review and hypothesis.

    Allan I. Basbaum;Howard L. Fields

  • Neurotransmitters in Nociceptive Modulatory Circuits

    Howard L. Fields;Mary M. Heinricher;Peggy Mason

  • State-dependent opioid control of pain

    Howard Fields

  • Corticostriatal functional connectivity predicts transition to chronic back pain.

    Marwan N Baliki;Bogdan Petre;Souraya Torbey;Kristina M Herrmann

  • Brainstem Control of Spinal Pain-Transmission Neurons

    Howard L. Fields;Allan I Basbaum

  • Central nervous system mechanisms of pain modulation

    Howard L. Fields;Allan I. Basbaum;Mary M. Heinricher

  • Orexin A in the VTA is critical for the induction of synaptic plasticity and behavioral sensitization to cocaine.

    Stephanie L. Borgland;Sharif A. Taha;Federica Sarti;Howard L. Fields

  • The affective component of pain in rodents: Direct evidence for a contribution of the anterior cingulate cortex

    Joshua P. Johansen;Howard L. Fields;Barton H. Manning

  • The rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg), a GABAergic afferent to midbrain dopamine neurons, encodes aversive stimuli and inhibits motor responses.

    Thomas C. Jhou;Howard L. Fields;Mark G. Baxter;Clifford B. Saper

  • Ventral Tegmental Area Neurons in Learned Appetitive Behavior and Positive Reinforcement

    Howard L. Fields;Gregory O. Hjelmstad;Elyssa B. Margolis;Saleem M. Nicola

  • The origin of descending pathways in the dorsolateral funiculus of the spinal cord of the cat and rat: further studies on the anatomy of pain modulation.

    Allan I. Basbaum;Howard L. Fields

  • Postherpetic Neuralgia: Irritable Nociceptors and Deafferentation

    Howard L. Fields;Michael Rowbotham;Ralf Baron;Ralf Baron

  • The activity of neurons in the rostral medulla of the rat during withdrawal from noxious heat

    HL Fields;J Bry;I Hentall;G Zorman

  • The ventral tegmental area revisited: is there an electrophysiological marker for dopaminergic neurons?

    Elyssa B. Margolis;Hagar Lock;Gregory O. Hjelmstad;Howard L. Fields

  • Both intravenous lidocaine and morphine reduce the pain of postherpetic neuralgia

    Michael C. Rowbotham;Lori A. Reisner-Keller;Howard L. Fields

  • Nucleus raphe magnus inhibition of spinal cord dorsal horn neurons.

    Howard L. Fields;Allan I. Basbaum;Charles H. Clanton;Stuart D. Anderson

  • Peptides and the primary afferent nociceptor

    Jon D. Levine;Howard L. Fields;Allan I. Basbaum

  • Predicting Value of Pain and Analgesia: Nucleus Accumbens Response to Noxious Stimuli Changes in the Presence of Chronic Pain

    Marwan N. Baliki;Paul Y. Geha;Howard L. Fields;A. Vania Apkarian

  • Evidence that an excitatory connection between the periaqueductal gray and nucleus raphe magnus mediates stimulation produced analgesia.

    Michael M. Behbehani;Michael M. Behbehani;Howard L. Fields;Howard L. Fields

Frequent Co-Authors

Mary M. Heinricher
Mary M. Heinricher Oregon Health & Science University
Allan I. Basbaum
Allan I. Basbaum University of California, San Francisco
Jon D. Levine
Jon D. Levine University of California, San Francisco
Nicholas M. Barbaro
Nicholas M. Barbaro The University of Texas at Austin
Frank Porreca
Frank Porreca University of Arizona
Mark D'Esposito
Mark D'Esposito University of California, Berkeley
Horacio Vanegas
Horacio Vanegas Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas
Michael M. Morgan
Michael M. Morgan Washington State University
Tamara King
Tamara King University of New England
Ralf Baron
Ralf Baron Kiel University

External Links

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