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Rainer Spanagel

Rainer Spanagel

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Medicine 101 7998 7516 464 444 502 36659

Rainer Spanagel publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Rainer Spanagel between 1990 and 2026, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Rainer Spanagel published across 37 years, from 1990 to 2026, averaging 15.6 papers a year. Output peaked at 31 publications in 2015. 24 of the 577 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
10 20 30
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1990 to 2026. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 31. Peak 31 publications in 2015. 1990: 3 publications 1991: 2 publications 1992: 4 publications 1993: 2 publications 1994: 7 publications 1995: 8 publications 1996: 10 publications 1997: 6 publications 1998: 17 publications 1999: 15 publications 2000: 10 publications 2001: 8 publications 2002: 8 publications 2003: 15 publications 2004: 23 publications 2005: 21 publications 2006: 9 publications 2007: 10 publications 2008: 20 publications 2009: 21 publications 2010: 27 publications 2011: 20 publications 2012: 22 publications 2013: 17 publications 2014: 26 publications 2015: 31 publications 2016: 20 publications 2017: 26 publications 2018: 20 publications 2019: 12 publications 2020: 16 publications 2021: 28 publications 2022: 26 publications 2023: 12 publications 2024: 31 publications 2025: 23 publications 2026: 1 publication
1990 2026

577 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Rainer Spanagel: publications per year, 1990 to 2026
Year Publications
1990 3
1991 2
1992 4
1993 2
1994 7
1995 8
1996 10
1997 6
1998 17
1999 15
2000 10
2001 8
2002 8
2003 15
2004 23
2005 21
2006 9
2007 10
2008 20
2009 21
2010 27
2011 20
2012 22
2013 17
2014 26
2015 31
2016 20
2017 26
2018 20
2019 12
2020 16
2021 28
2022 26
2023 12
2024 31
2025 23
2026 1
Total 577
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Rainer Spanagel publication distribution in Medicine in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Medicine in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Rainer Spanagel sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
200 400 600 800
Bar chart with 86 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 101–120 to 1,796+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 922. Most scientists, 922, have 341–360 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 1,796 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 501–520 publications, is where this scientist sits. 101–120 publications: 5 scientists 121–140 publications: 26 scientists 141–160 publications: 73 scientists 161–180 publications: 155 scientists 181–200 publications: 230 scientists 201–220 publications: 363 scientists 221–240 publications: 487 scientists 241–260 publications: 545 scientists 261–280 publications: 722 scientists 281–300 publications: 768 scientists 301–320 publications: 834 scientists 321–340 publications: 895 scientists 341–360 publications: 922 scientists 361–380 publications: 838 scientists 381–400 publications: 861 scientists 401–420 publications: 918 scientists 421–440 publications: 806 scientists 441–460 publications: 771 scientists 461–480 publications: 751 scientists 481–500 publications: 713 scientists 501–520 publications: 617 scientists 521–540 publications: 610 scientists 541–560 publications: 537 scientists 561–580 publications: 504 scientists 581–600 publications: 509 scientists 601–620 publications: 396 scientists 621–640 publications: 386 scientists 641–660 publications: 371 scientists 661–680 publications: 340 scientists 681–700 publications: 336 scientists 701–720 publications: 307 scientists 721–740 publications: 259 scientists 741–760 publications: 230 scientists 761–780 publications: 228 scientists 781–800 publications: 217 scientists 801–820 publications: 204 scientists 821–840 publications: 186 scientists 841–860 publications: 177 scientists 861–880 publications: 155 scientists 881–900 publications: 139 scientists 901–920 publications: 145 scientists 921–940 publications: 116 scientists 941–960 publications: 133 scientists 961–980 publications: 91 scientists 981–1,000 publications: 96 scientists 1,001–1,020 publications: 77 scientists 1,021–1,040 publications: 70 scientists 1,041–1,060 publications: 63 scientists 1,061–1,080 publications: 77 scientists 1,081–1,100 publications: 49 scientists 1,101–1,120 publications: 54 scientists 1,121–1,140 publications: 49 scientists 1,141–1,160 publications: 51 scientists 1,161–1,180 publications: 35 scientists 1,181–1,200 publications: 39 scientists 1,201–1,220 publications: 26 scientists 1,221–1,240 publications: 37 scientists 1,241–1,260 publications: 36 scientists 1,261–1,280 publications: 27 scientists 1,281–1,300 publications: 32 scientists 1,301–1,320 publications: 28 scientists 1,321–1,340 publications: 17 scientists 1,341–1,360 publications: 30 scientists 1,361–1,380 publications: 28 scientists 1,381–1,400 publications: 17 scientists 1,401–1,420 publications: 21 scientists 1,421–1,440 publications: 15 scientists 1,441–1,460 publications: 12 scientists 1,461–1,480 publications: 12 scientists 1,481–1,500 publications: 18 scientists 1,501–1,520 publications: 14 scientists 1,521–1,540 publications: 17 scientists 1,541–1,560 publications: 15 scientists 1,561–1,580 publications: 6 scientists 1,581–1,600 publications: 2 scientists 1,601–1,620 publications: 12 scientists 1,621–1,640 publications: 11 scientists 1,641–1,660 publications: 8 scientists 1,661–1,680 publications: 5 scientists 1,681–1,700 publications: 5 scientists 1,701–1,720 publications: 10 scientists 1,721–1,740 publications: 12 scientists 1,741–1,760 publications: 14 scientists 1,761–1,780 publications: 6 scientists 1,781–1,795 publications: 5 scientists 1,796+ publications: 100 scientists
101–120 publications 1,796+

This scientist: 502 publications — 58th percentile

58% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 1,796 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Medicine scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 20,134 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
101–120 5
121–140 26
141–160 73
161–180 155
181–200 230
201–220 363
221–240 487
241–260 545
261–280 722
281–300 768
301–320 834
321–340 895
341–360 922
361–380 838
381–400 861
401–420 918
421–440 806
441–460 771
461–480 751
481–500 713
501–520 617 502
521–540 610
541–560 537
561–580 504
581–600 509
601–620 396
621–640 386
641–660 371
661–680 340
681–700 336
701–720 307
721–740 259
741–760 230
761–780 228
781–800 217
801–820 204
821–840 186
841–860 177
861–880 155
881–900 139
901–920 145
921–940 116
941–960 133
961–980 91
981–1,000 96
1,001–1,020 77
1,021–1,040 70
1,041–1,060 63
1,061–1,080 77
1,081–1,100 49
1,101–1,120 54
1,121–1,140 49
1,141–1,160 51
1,161–1,180 35
1,181–1,200 39
1,201–1,220 26
1,221–1,240 37
1,241–1,260 36
1,261–1,280 27
1,281–1,300 32
1,301–1,320 28
1,321–1,340 17
1,341–1,360 30
1,361–1,380 28
1,381–1,400 17
1,401–1,420 21
1,421–1,440 15
1,441–1,460 12
1,461–1,480 12
1,481–1,500 18
1,501–1,520 14
1,521–1,540 17
1,541–1,560 15
1,561–1,580 6
1,581–1,600 2
1,601–1,620 12
1,621–1,640 11
1,641–1,660 8
1,661–1,680 5
1,681–1,700 5
1,701–1,720 10
1,721–1,740 12
1,741–1,760 14
1,761–1,780 6
1,781–1,795 5
1,796+ 100
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Rainer Spanagel D-index placement in Medicine in 2026

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

No. of scientists
250 500 750 1,000
Bar chart with 75 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 70–71 to 217+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 1,027. Most scientists, 1,027, have 82–83 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 217 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 100–101 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 70–71 D-Index: 226 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 391 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 574 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 730 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 891 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 972 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 1,027 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 1,003 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 960 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 970 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 922 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 839 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 808 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 779 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 668 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 611 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 630 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 513 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 541 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 445 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 429 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 399 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 393 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 318 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 302 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 287 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 255 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 256 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 252 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 230 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 179 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 168 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 163 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 159 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 134 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 134 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 118 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 109 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 106 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 74 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 79 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 80 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 87 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 57 scientists 158–159 D-Index: 74 scientists 160–161 D-Index: 69 scientists 162–163 D-Index: 60 scientists 164–165 D-Index: 53 scientists 166–167 D-Index: 39 scientists 168–169 D-Index: 42 scientists 170–171 D-Index: 32 scientists 172–173 D-Index: 39 scientists 174–175 D-Index: 40 scientists 176–177 D-Index: 28 scientists 178–179 D-Index: 19 scientists 180–181 D-Index: 23 scientists 182–183 D-Index: 31 scientists 184–185 D-Index: 18 scientists 186–187 D-Index: 20 scientists 188–189 D-Index: 22 scientists 190–191 D-Index: 13 scientists 192–193 D-Index: 21 scientists 194–195 D-Index: 12 scientists 196–197 D-Index: 12 scientists 198–199 D-Index: 14 scientists 200–201 D-Index: 15 scientists 202–203 D-Index: 13 scientists 204–205 D-Index: 10 scientists 206–207 D-Index: 8 scientists 208–209 D-Index: 4 scientists 210–211 D-Index: 12 scientists 212–213 D-Index: 11 scientists 214–215 D-Index: 10 scientists 216 D-Index: 4 scientists 217+ D-Index: 98 scientists
70–71 D-Index 217+

This scientist: 101 D-Index — 61st percentile

61% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 217 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Medicine scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 20,134 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
70–71 226
72–73 391
74–75 574
76–77 730
78–79 891
80–81 972
82–83 1,027
84–85 1,003
86–87 960
88–89 970
90–91 922
92–93 839
94–95 808
96–97 779
98–99 668
100–101 611 101
102–103 630
104–105 513
106–107 541
108–109 445
110–111 429
112–113 399
114–115 393
116–117 318
118–119 302
120–121 287
122–123 255
124–125 256
126–127 252
128–129 230
130–131 179
132–133 168
134–135 163
136–137 159
138–139 134
140–141 134
142–143 118
144–145 109
146–147 106
148–149 74
150–151 79
152–153 80
154–155 87
156–157 57
158–159 74
160–161 69
162–163 60
164–165 53
166–167 39
168–169 42
170–171 32
172–173 39
174–175 40
176–177 28
178–179 19
180–181 23
182–183 31
184–185 18
186–187 20
188–189 22
190–191 13
192–193 21
194–195 12
196–197 12
198–199 14
200–201 15
202–203 13
204–205 10
206–207 8
208–209 4
210–211 12
212–213 11
214–215 10
216 4
217+ 98
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Overview

Rainer Spanagel is affiliated with Heidelberg University in Germany and has a research focus primarily in the fields of Neuroscience and Medicine, with substantial contributions to Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, and Pharmacology.

Their research topics extensively cover Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects, Epigenetics and DNA Methylation, Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes, Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling, Memory and Neural Mechanisms, and Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research.

Spanagel has published extensively in several scientific venues. Frequent publication outlets include bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) with 21 publications, Translational Psychiatry with 6, Psychopharmacology and Scientific Reports each with 5, and Addiction Biology with 4 publications.

Recent notable papers include the following:

  • "Medical cannabinoids: a pharmacology-based systematic review and meta-analysis for all relevant medical indications" (2022), BMC Medicine
  • "Cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system in reward processing and addiction: from mechanisms to interventions" (2020), Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience
  • "Psilocybin targets a common molecular mechanism for cognitive impairment and increased craving in alcoholism" (2021), Science Advances
  • "A methodological checklist for fMRI drug cue reactivity studies: development and expert consensus" (2022), Nature Protocols
  • "Psilocybin and LSD have no long-lasting effects in an animal model of alcohol relapse" (2020), Neuropsychopharmacology

Spanagel has frequently collaborated with several researchers, including Anita C. Hansson, Marcella Rietschel, Stephanie H. Witt, Marcus W. Meinhardt, and Wolfgang H. Sommer.

Best Publications

  • The dopamine hypothesis of reward: past and current status

    Rainer Spanagel;Friedbert Weiss

  • Opposing tonically active endogenous opioid systems modulate the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway

    Rainer Spanagel;Albert Herz;Toni S. Shippenberg

  • Impaired stress response and reduced anxiety in mice lacking a functional corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1

    Peter Timpl;Rainer Spanagel;Inge Sillaber;Adelheid Kresse

  • Alcoholism: a systems approach from molecular physiology to addictive behavior.

    Rainer Spanagel

  • Behavioural assessment of drug reinforcement and addictive features in rodents: an overview.

    Carles Sanchis-Segura;Rainer Spanagel

  • The IMAGEN study: reinforcement-related behaviour in normal brain function and psychopathology.

    G Schumann;E Loth;T Banaschewski;A Barbot

  • Neuropharmacology of alcohol addiction.

    V Vengeliene;A Bilbao;A Molander;R Spanagel

  • The clock gene Per2 influences the glutamatergic system and modulates alcohol consumption.

    Rainer Spanagel;Gurudutt N Pendyala;Carolina Abarca;Tarek Zghoul

  • Correlated gene expression supports synchronous activity in brain networks

    Jonas Richiardi;Jonas Richiardi;Andre Altmann;Anna-Clare Milazzo;Anna-Clare Milazzo;Catie Chang

  • Stress-induced anhedonia in mice is associated with deficits in forced swimming and exploration.

    Tatyana Strekalova;Rainer Spanagel;Dusan Bartsch;Fritz A Henn

  • The effects of opioid peptides on dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens : an in vivo microdialysis study

    Rainer Spanagel;Albert Herz;Toni S. Shippenberg

  • Cocaine sensitization and reward are under the influence of circadian genes and rhythm.

    Carolina Abarca;Urs Albrecht;Rainer Spanagel

  • Adolescent impulsivity phenotypes characterized by distinct brain networks.

    Robert Whelan;Patricia J Conrod;Patricia J Conrod;Jean-Baptiste Poline;Anbarasu Lourdusamy

  • Regulation of Monoamine Oxidase A by Circadian-Clock Components Implies Clock Influence on Mood

    Gabriele Hampp;Jürgen A. Ripperger;Thijs Houben;Isabelle Schmutz

  • Impaired long-term memory and NR2A-type NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity in mice lacking c-Fos in the CNS

    Alexander Fleischmann;Oivind Hvalby;Vidar Jensen;Tatyana Strekalova

  • Genome-wide association study of alcohol dependence.

    Jens Treutlein;Sven Cichon;Monika Ridinger;Norbert Wodarz

  • Withdrawal Phenomena and Dependence Syndrome After the Consumption of "Spice Gold"

    Ulrich S. Zimmermann;Patricia R. Winkelmann;Max Pilhatsch;Josef A Nees

  • Anti-craving compounds for ethanol: new pharmacological tools to study addictive processes.

    Rainer Spanagel;Walter Zieglgänsberger

  • Long-term alcohol self-administration with repeated alcohol deprivation phases: an animal model of alcoholism?

    R. Spanagel;S. M. Hölter

  • Cocaine-evoked synaptic plasticity: persistence in the VTA triggers adaptations in the NAc

    Manuel Mameli;Briac Halbout;Cyril Creton;David Engblom

Frequent Co-Authors

Wolfgang H. Sommer
Wolfgang H. Sommer Heidelberg University
Gunter Schumann
Gunter Schumann King's College London
Karl Mann
Karl Mann Heidelberg University
Falk Kiefer
Falk Kiefer Heidelberg University
Anita C. Hansson
Anita C. Hansson Central Institute of Mental Health
Andreas Heinz
Andreas Heinz Charité - University Medicine Berlin
Marcella Rietschel
Marcella Rietschel Heidelberg University
Tomáš Paus
Tomáš Paus University of Toronto
Herta Flor
Herta Flor Heidelberg University

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