Siobhan Robinson
Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Director of Neuroscience
Siobhan Robinson conducts research across a wide range of neuroscience subfields. Her animal-based research employs both classical and innovative techniques to investigate the neuroanatomy and the neurochemistry underlying goal-directed, but maladaptive learning, memory and motivation. The ultimate goal of the research is to better understand the neurobiology underlying behavioral and cognitive deficits such as those observed in persons with substance dependence, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Robinson’s research is published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences (PNAS), The Journal of Neuroscience, Behavioral Neuroscience, The Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Hippocampus and other peer-reviewed journals. Robinson earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Rochester and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Washington. Prior to her position at Hamilton College, Robinson was a teacher and scholar at Dartmouth College and at Oberlin College.
Recent Courses Taught
Introduction to Brain and Behavior
Select Publications
- Robinson, S. & Adelman, J. S. (2015) A method for remotely silencing neural activity during discrete phases of learning.
The Journal of Visualized Experimentation, 100, e52859, doi:10.3791/52859. - Robinson, S., Todd, T. P., Pasternak, A. R., Luikart, B. W., Skelton, P. D., Urban, D. G., & Buggi, D. J. (2014). Chemogenetic silencing of neurons in retrosplenial cortex disrupts sensory preconditioning. The Journal of Neuroscience, 34, 10982-10988.
- Bucci, D. J., & Robinson, S. (2014) Toward a conceptualization of retrohippocampal contributions to learning and memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 116, 197-207.
- Robinson, S., Poorman, C. E., Marder, T. J., & Bucci, D. J. (2012). Identification of functional circuitry between retrosplenial and postrhinal corticies during fear conditioning. The Journal of Neuroscience, 32, 12076-86.
- Robinson, S., & Bucci, D. J. (2012). Damage to posterior parietal cortext impairs two forms of relational learning. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, doi:10.3389/fnint.2012.00045.
- Robinson, S., & Bucci, D. J. (2012). Fear conditioning is disrupted by damage to the postsubiculum. Hippocampus, 22,1481-91.
- Robinson, S., Keene, C., Iaccarino, H. F., Duane, D., & Bucci, D. J. (2011). Involvement of retrosplenial cortex in forming associations between multiple sensory stimuli. Behavioral Neuroscience, 125, 578-587.
- Robinson, S., Penatti, C. A. A., & Clark, A. S. (2011). The role of androgen receptor in anabolic androgenic steroid-induced aggressive behavior in C57BL.6J and Tfm mice. Hormones & Behavior, 61, 67-75.
- Clark, A. S., Robinson, S., Meerts, S., Boisvert, E., & Quill, K. A. (2011). The display of paced mating behavior in a rat model of endometriosis. Physiology & Behavior, 104, 722-727.
- Robinson, S., Sotak, B. S., During, M,. & Palmiter, R. D. (2006). Local production of dopamine in the dorsal striatum restores performance and reversal learning in dopamine deficient mice. Behavioral Neuroscience, 120, 196-200.
- Sotak, B. S., Hnasko, T. S., Robinson, S., Kremer, E. J., & Palmeter, R. D. (2005). Dysregulation of dopamine signaling in the striatum disrupts feeding. Brain Research, 1061, 88-96.
- Seeman, P., Weinshenker, D., Quirion, R., Srivastava, L. K., Bhardwaj, S. K., Grandy, D. K., Premont, R., Sotnikova, T., Boska, P., El-Ghundi, M., O'Dowd, B. F., George, S. R., Perreault, M. L., Mannisto, P. T., Robinson, S., Palmiter, R. D., & Tallerico, T. (2005). Dopamine-mimetic supersensitivity has increased D2HIGH states implying many paths to psychosis. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 102, 3513-3518.
- Robinson, S., Sandstrom, S. M., Denenberg, V. H., & Palmiter, R. D. (2005). Distinguishing whether dopamine regulates liking, wanting, and/ or learning about rewards. Behavioral Neuroscience, 119, 5-15.
- Bamford, N. S., Robinson, S., Palmiter, R. D., Joyce, J. A., Moore, C., & Menshul, C.K., (2004) Dopamine modulates release from corticostriatal terminals. Journal of Neuroscience, 24, 9541- 9552.
- Robinson, S., Smith, D. M., Mizumori, S. J. Y., & Palmiter, R. D., (2004). Firing properties of dopamine neurons in freely moving dopamine-deficient mice: effects of dopamine receptor agonists and anesthesia. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 101, 13329-13334.
- Paladini, C. A., Robinson, S., Morikawa, H., Williams, J. T., & Palmiter, R. D., (2003) Dopamine controls the firing pattern of dopamine neurons via a network feedback mechanism. Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 100, 2866-2871.
- Robinson, S., Freeman, P., Moore, C., Touchon, J. C., Krentz, L., & Meshul, C. K., (2003). Acute and subchronic MPTP administration differentially affects striatal glutamate synaptic function. Experimental Neurology, 180, 73-86.
- Robinson, S., Krentz, L., Moore, C., & Meshul, C. K., (2001). Blockade of NMDA receptors by MK-801 reverses the changes in striatal glutamate immunolabeling in 6-OHDA lesioned rats. Synapse, 42, 54-61.
- Wade, C. B., Robinson, S., Shapiro, R. A., & Dorsa, D. M., (2001). Estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ exhibit unique pharmacological properties when coupled to activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Endocrinology, 142, 2336-2342.
- Blasberg, M. E., Robinson, S., Henderson, L. P., & Clark, A. S., (1998). Inhibition of estrogen induced sexual receptivity by androgens: role of the androgen receptor. Hormones & Behavior, 34, 283-293.
- Clark, A. S., Myers, M., Robinson, S., Chang, P., & Henderson L.P., (1998) Hormone dependent regulation of GABAA receptor γ subunit mRNAs in sexually dimorphic regions of the rat brain. Proceeding of the Royal Society of London, 265, 1853-1859.
- Clark, A.S., Robinson, S., & Henderson, L. P., (1997) Dynamics of GABAA receptor binding in the ventromedial hypothalamus during postnatal development in the rat. Developmental Brain Research, 103, 195-198.
Professional Affiliations
The Society for Neuroscience
FUN- Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
The Pavlovian Society
Appointed to the Faculty
2016Educational Background
Ph. D., University of Washington, Seattle
B.A., University of Rochester
