World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Neuroscience

D-Index
43
Citations
10436
World Ranking
7308
National Ranking
41

Overview

Ja Wook Koo is affiliated with the Korea Brain Research Institute in South Korea. Their research primarily focuses on neuroscience, with significant contributions in cellular and molecular neuroscience, molecular biology, cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, and neurology.

The scientist's recent publications include:

  • Social isolation impairs the prefrontal-nucleus accumbens circuit subserving social recognition in mice, 2021, Cell Reports
  • Problematic Use of Alcohol and Online Gaming as Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review, 2021, Frontiers in Psychiatry
  • How Stress Shapes Neuroimmune Function: Implications for the Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders, 2020, Biological Psychiatry
  • Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 in Amygdala Target Neurons Regulates Susceptibility to Chronic Social Stress, 2022, Biological Psychiatry
  • Dopaminergic Regulation of Nucleus Accumbens Cholinergic Interneurons Demarcates Susceptibility to Cocaine Addiction, 2020, Biological Psychiatry

Ja Wook Koo frequently collaborates with a number of researchers including Jeongseop Kim, Tae-Yong Choi, Minkyung Park, Ung Gu Kang, and Jung-Seok Choi.

The scientist publishes mainly in the following venues:

  • Frontiers in Psychiatry
  • Biological Psychiatry
  • Molecular Brain
  • Translational Psychiatry
  • Experimental Neurobiology

Key areas of study and topic focus include:

  • Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Diet and metabolism studies

Best Publications

  • Rapid regulation of depression-related behaviours by control of midbrain dopamine neurons

    Dipesh Chaudhury;Jessica J. Walsh;Allyson K. Friedman;Barbara Juarez

  • IL-1β is an essential mediator of the antineurogenic and anhedonic effects of stress

    Ja Wook Koo;Ronald S. Duman

  • Cell Type–Specific Loss of BDNF Signaling Mimics Optogenetic Control of Cocaine Reward

    Mary Kay Lobo;Herbert E. Covington;Dipesh Chaudhury;Allyson K. Friedman

  • Nuclear factor-κB is a critical mediator of stress-impaired neurogenesis and depressive behavior

    Ja Wook Koo;Scott J. Russo;Deveroux Ferguson;Eric J. Nestler

  • Dnmt3a regulates emotional behavior and spine plasticity in the nucleus accumbens

    Quincey LaPlant;Quincey LaPlant;Vincent Vialou;Herbert E Covington;Dani Dumitriu

  • Sex Differences in Nucleus Accumbens Transcriptome Profiles Associated with Susceptibility versus Resilience to Subchronic Variable Stress

    Georgia E. Hodes;Madeline L. Pfau;Immanuel Purushothaman;H. Francisca Ahn

  • β-catenin mediates stress resilience through Dicer1/microRNA regulation

    Caroline Dias;Jian Feng;Haosheng Sun;Ning Y.i. Shao

  • ΔFosB Induction in Striatal Medium Spiny Neuron Subtypes in Response to Chronic Pharmacological, Emotional, and Optogenetic Stimuli

    Mary Kay Lobo;Samir Zaman;Diane M. Damez-Werno;Ja Wook Koo

  • Stress and CRF gate neural activation of BDNF in the mesolimbic reward pathway

    Jessica J. Walsh;Allyson K. Friedman;Haosheng Sun;Elizabeth A. Heller

  • Essential Role of Mesolimbic Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Chronic Social Stress–Induced Depressive Behaviors

    Ja Wook Koo;Benoit Labonté;Olivia Engmann;Erin S. Calipari

  • Amygdalar Inactivation Blocks Stress-Induced Impairments in Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation and Spatial Memory

    Jeansok J. Kim;Ja Wook Koo;Hongjoo J. Lee;Jung-Soo Han

  • Selective neurotoxic lesions of basolateral and central nuclei of the amygdala produce differential effects on fear conditioning

    Ja Wook Koo;Jung Soo Han;Jeansok J. Kim

  • BDNF Is a Negative Modulator of Morphine Action

    Ja Wook Koo;Michelle S. Mazei-Robison;Dipesh Chaudhury;Barbara Juarez

  • Role of Tet1 and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in cocaine action

    Jian Feng;Ningyi Shao;Keith E. Szulwach;Vincent Vialou;Vincent Vialou

  • Chronic cocaine-regulated epigenomic changes in mouse nucleus accumbens

    Jian Feng;Matthew Wilkinson;Xiaochuan Liu;Immanuel Purushothaman

  • Rac1 is essential in cocaine-induced structural plasticity of nucleus accumbens neurons

    David M Dietz;Haosheng Sun;Mary Kay Lobo;Michael E. Cahill

  • Novel cognitive improving and neuroprotective activities of Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow extract, BT-11

    Cheol Hyoung Park;Se Hoon Choi;Ja-Wook Koo;Ji-Heui Seo

  • Cocaine Self-administration Alters Transcriptome-wide Responses in the Brain’s Reward Circuitry

    Deena M. Walker;Hannah M. Cates;Yong Hwee E. Loh;Immanuel Purushothaman

  • The postnatal environment can counteract prenatal effects on cognitive ability, cell proliferation, and synaptic protein expression

    Ja Wook Koo;Cheol Hyoung Park;Se Hoon Choi;Na Jung Kim

  • Role for mTOR Signaling and Neuronal Activity in Morphine-Induced Adaptations in Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons

    Michelle S. Mazei-Robison;Ja Wook Koo;Allyson K. Friedman;Carien S. Lansink

Frequent Co-Authors

Eric J. Nestler
Eric J. Nestler Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Rachael L. Neve
Rachael L. Neve Harvard University
David M. Dietz
David M. Dietz University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Scott J. Russo
Scott J. Russo Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Deveroux Ferguson
Deveroux Ferguson University of Arizona
Ming-Hu Han
Ming-Hu Han Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Vincent Vialou
Vincent Vialou Sorbonne University
Jian Feng
Jian Feng University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Mary Kay Lobo
Mary Kay Lobo University of Maryland, Baltimore
Michelle S. Mazei-Robison
Michelle S. Mazei-Robison Michigan State University

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Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

For those interested in Neuroscience, there are many related online degrees and career pathways worth considering. For example, a bachelors in psychology online can provide foundational knowledge in human behavior, research methods, and cognitive processes—skills highly relevant to neuroscience.

Graduate options such as the msw degree (Master of Social Work) are ideal for those wanting to integrate neuroscience insights into social services or clinical practice. Additionally, advanced clinical routes like psyd programs usa prepare students for licensure in psychology, offering specialized study in mental health and therapy.

Aspiring therapists can explore mft programs (Marriage and Family Therapy) to focus on systemic approaches to mental health emphasizing the connections between neurology and family dynamics. Each pathway offers online flexibility, making it easier to balance study with work or other commitments while building a strong foundation for neuroscience-related careers.

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