World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

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Neuroscience

D-Index
126
Citations
73602
World Ranking
314
National Ranking
188

Psychology

D-Index
126
Citations
73092
World Ranking
198
National Ranking
123

Overview

Jaak Panksepp was affiliated with Washington State University in the United States. Their research contributions primarily focused on the field of Psychology, with specific emphasis on Social Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Endocrine and Autonomic Systems, and Human-Computer Interaction.

Their scholarly work encompassed several major topics, including:

  • Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
  • Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts

Panksepp's recent publications included two papers:

  • "Neuromodulation of safety and surprise in the early stages of infant development: affective homeostatic regulation in bodily and mental functions," published in 2024 in Frontiers in Psychology
  • "A study of relations between intracranial self-stimulation and operant behavior maintained by food reward," published in 2023 in Scholarworks (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

The researcher collaborated with various co-authors during their career, including Andrea Clarici, Matteo Bulfon, and Yvonne Radin. Their work appeared in multiple publication venues, particularly Frontiers in Psychology and Scholarworks (University of Massachusetts Amherst), each housing one of their known publications.

Best Publications

  • Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions

    Jaak Panksepp

  • Self-referential processing in our brain--a meta-analysis of imaging studies on the self.

    Georg Northoff;Alexander Heinzel;Moritz de Greck;Felix Bermpohl;Felix Bermpohl

  • The role of nucleus accumbens dopamine in motivated behavior: a unifying interpretation with special reference to reward-seeking

    Satoshi Ikemoto;Jaak Panksepp

  • Affective consciousness: Core emotional feelings in animals and humans.

    Jaak Panksepp

  • Toward a general psychobiological theory of emotions

    Jaak Panksepp

  • Brain substrates of infant–mother attachment: Contributions of opioids, oxytocin, and norepinephrine.

    Eric E Nelson;Jaak Panksepp

  • The emotional sources of "chills" induced by music.

    Jaak Panksepp

  • The neurobiology of positive emotions.

    Jeffrey Burgdorf;Jaak Panksepp;Jaak Panksepp

  • Ultrasonic vocalizations as indices of affective states in rats.

    Brian Knutson;Jeffrey S Burgdorf;Jaak Panksepp

  • Emotional sounds and the brain: the neuro-affective foundations of musical appreciation

    Jaak Panksepp;Günther Bernatzky

  • Sleep as a fundamental property of neuronal assemblies

    James M. Krueger;David M. Rector;Sandip Roy;Hans P. A. Van Dongen

  • The Archaeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotions

    Jaak Panksepp;Lucy Biven

  • "Laughing" rats and the evolutionary antecedents of human joy?

    Jaak Panksepp;Jeff Burgdorf

  • Endogenous opioids and social behavior

    J. Panksepp;B.H. Herman;T. Vilberg;P. Bishop

  • Behavioral functions of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system: an affective neuroethological perspective.

    Antonio Alcaro;Robert Huber;Jaak Panksepp;Jaak Panksepp

  • The biology of social attachments: opiates alleviate separation distress.

    Jaak Panksepp;B. Herman;R. Conner;P. Bishop

  • The ontogeny of play in rats.

    Jaak Panksepp

  • At the interface of the affective, behavioral, and cognitive neurosciences: decoding the emotional feelings of the brain.

    Jaak Panksepp

  • Acute effects of steroid hormones and neuropeptides on human social–emotional behavior: A review of single administration studies

    Peter A. Bos;Jaak Panksepp;Rose-Marie Bluthé;Jack van Honk;Jack van Honk

  • The psychobiology of play: theoretical and methodological perspectives.

    Jaak Panksepp;Steve Siviy;Larry Normansell

  • The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness

    Jaak Panksepp;Arnold H. Modell

Frequent Co-Authors

Jeffrey Burgdorf
Jeffrey Burgdorf Northwestern University
Joseph R. Moskal
Joseph R. Moskal Northwestern University
Christian Montag
Christian Montag University of Macau
Brian Knutson
Brian Knutson Stanford University
Mark Solms
Mark Solms University of Cape Town
Peter J. Morgane
Peter J. Morgane Boston University
Jack van Honk
Jack van Honk Utrecht University
Marion Leboyer
Marion Leboyer Paris-Est Créteil University
Georg Northoff
Georg Northoff University of Ottawa
Satoshi Ikemoto
Satoshi Ikemoto National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Pursuing a Psychology degree in the USA opens the door to many online programs and diverse career options, such as becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). However, it’s important to know that each state sets its own licensure rules for counselors. This means requirements like education level, supervised experience, and examinations will vary based on where you plan to practice.

For example, those interested in practicing in Delaware should carefully review the Delaware lpc licensure requirements to ensure they meet all qualifications. If Florida is your destination, familiarize yourself with the specific Florida lpc licensure requirements important for LPC candidates in that state.

Similarly, Georgia offers its own set of Georgia licensed professional counselor requirements that are crucial for aspiring mental health professionals. If you’re hoping to work in Hawaii, review the regional standards with the lpc license requirements in Hawaii.

Before enrolling in an online Psychology degree or planning your counseling career pathway, always check your target state’s licensure requirements. This ensures a smoother transition from education to employment and maximizes your professional opportunities.

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