World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Neuroscience

D-Index
63
Citations
9837
World Ranking
3452
National Ranking
1595

Overview

Joan I. Morrell is affiliated with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in the United States. Their work primarily spans the fields of Neuroscience and Psychology, with a specific focus on Social Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, as well as Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health.

The scientist's research covers several main topics, including:

  • Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Joan I. Morrell has published research in notable venues such as Psychopharmacology and eNeuro. Two recent papers highlight the focus of their work:

  • Decreased mesolimbic dopaminergic signaling underlies the waning of maternal caregiving across the postpartum period in rats, 2020, Psychopharmacology
  • Infralimbic Cortex Biases Preference Decision Making for Offspring over Competing Cocaine-Associated Stimuli in New Mother Rats, 2020, eNeuro

Frequent collaborators in their research include Mariana Pereira, Zachary A. Grieb, Erika M. Vitale, and Joseph S. Lonstein, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to studies related to neural and behavioral mechanisms in maternal care and addiction-related decision making.

Best Publications

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

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

  • Possible Role for Endogenous Oxytocin in Estrogen-Facilitated Maternal Behavior in Rats

    Susan E. Fahrbach;Joan I. Morrell;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Autoradiographic localization of hormone-concentrating cells in the brain of an amphibian, Xenopus laevis. I. Testosterone

    Darcy B. Kelley;Joan I. Morrell;Donald W. Pfaff

  • ATLAS OF THE NEURONS THAT EXPRESS MRNA FOR THE LONG FORM OF THE PROLACTIN RECEPTOR IN THE FOREBRAIN OF THE FEMALE RAT

    Joanna C. Bakowska;Joan I. Morrell

  • Immunocytochemical Localization of Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone in Male and Female Rat Brains

    Brenda D. Shivers;Richard E. Harlan;Joan I. Morrell;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Comparison of two positive reinforcing stimuli: pups and cocaine throughout the postpartum period.

    B. J. Mattson;S. Williams;J. S. Rosenblatt;J. I. Morrell

  • Distribution of estrogen receptor-immunoreactive cells in the forebrain of the female guinea pig.

    Lydia L. Doncarlos;E. Monroy;J. I. Morrell

  • Oxytocin induction of short-latency maternal behavior in nulliparous, estrogen-primed female rats

    S E Fahrbach;J I Morrell;D W Pfaff

  • Hypothalamic, other diencephalic, and telencephalic neurons that project to the dorsal midbrain

    J. I. Morrell;L. M. Greenberger;D. W. Pfaff

  • A subset of beta-endorphin- or dynorphin-containing neurons in the medial basal hypothalamus accumulates estradiol.

    Joan I. Morrell;Jacqueline F. McGinty;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Characterization of estrogen-concentrating hypothalamic neurons by their axonal projections.

    JI Morrell;DW Pfaff

  • Distribution and steroid hormone regulation of aromatase mRNA expression in the forebrain of adult male and female rats: a cellular-level analysis using in situ hybridization.

    Christine K. Wagner;Joan I. Morrell

  • A Neuroendocrine Approach to Brain Function: Localization of Sex Steroid Concentrating Cells in Vertebrate Brains

    Joan I. Morrell;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Autoradiographic Localization of Estradiol-Concentrating Cells in the Female Hamster Brain

    M.S. Krieger;J.I. Morrell;D.W. Pfaff

  • Functional mapping of the neural circuitry of rat maternal motivation: effects of site-specific transient neural inactivation

    Mariana Pereira;Joan I. Morrell

  • Ontogenesis of neurons producing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in the nervus terminalis of the rat.

    Marlene Schwanzel‐Fukuda;Joan I. Morrell;Donald W. Pfaff

  • Localization of forebrain neurons which project directly to the medulla and spinal cord of the rat by retrograde tracing with wheat germ agglutinin

    Marlene Schwanzel‐Fukuda;Joan I. Morrell;Donald W. Pfaff

  • An autoradiographic study of projections ascending from the midbrain central gray, and from the region lateral to it, in the rat.

    J. A. Eberhart;J. I. Morrell;M. S. Krieger;D. W. Pfaff

  • Distribution of Estrogen-Concentrating, Neurophysin-Containing Magnocellular Neurons in the Rat Hypothalamus as Demonstrated by a Technique Combining Steroid Autoradiography and Immunohistology in the Same Tissue

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

  • Preference for cocaine- versus pup-associated cues differentially activates neurons expressing either Fos or cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in lactating, maternal rodents.

    B.J. Mattson;J.I. Morrell

  • Localization of lumbar epaxial motoneurons in the rat

    Emily E. Brink;Joan I. Morrell;Donald W. Pfaff

Frequent Co-Authors

Donald W. Pfaff
Donald W. Pfaff Rockefeller University
Harvey H. Feder
Harvey H. Feder Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Marya Shanabrough
Marya Shanabrough Yale University
James W. Simpkins
James W. Simpkins West Virginia University
Victor D. Ramirez
Victor D. Ramirez University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Susan E. Fahrbach
Susan E. Fahrbach Wake Forest University
Joseph Weidenfeld
Joseph Weidenfeld Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jean-Didier Vincent
Jean-Didier Vincent Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS
Alan G. Watts
Alan G. Watts University of Southern California
Alison S. Fleming
Alison S. Fleming University of Toronto

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Neuroscience is a dynamic field that intersects with psychology, counseling, and therapy. If you are considering alternative or complementary study options, there are a variety of online degrees available in these areas. Many students interested in the brain and behavior explore programs in counseling, clinical psychology, or therapy to broaden their career opportunities.

For those seeking to qualify as professional counselors, cacrep accredited online counseling programs ensure rigorous training and meet licensure requirements in many states. If affordability is a key concern, the cheapest online lpc programs offer flexible pathways to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor without excessive financial burden.

Students drawn to family dynamics may consider earning an lmft degree to pursue a career as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Alternatively, a masters in psychology can open the door to diverse roles in research, mental health, and education.

Exploring these related online options can help neuroscience graduates find a path tailored to their interests, whether in clinical practice, research, or applied settings.

Best Scientists Citing Joan I. Morrell

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles