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​Research Articles

​                                  †: supervised undergraduates​

  • Zhao, X., Chae, Y.†, Smith, D.†, Chen, V.†, Sadangi, A.†, DeFelipe, D.†, Sokol, J. W.†, & Tschida, K. A. (2025) Short-term social isolation acts on hypothalamic neurons to promot social behavior in a sex- and context-dependent manner. eLife. 13:RP94924 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., Erickson, M.†, Mohammed, R.†, & Kentner, A. C. (2022). Maternal immune activation accelerates puberty initiation and alters mechanical allodynia in male and female C57BL6/J mice. Developmental Psychobiology. 64 (5), e22278 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X.*, Ziobro, P.*, Pranic, N. M.*, Chu, S., Rabinovich, S.†, Chan, W., Zhao, J., Kornbrek, C., He, Z., & Tschida, K. A. (2021). Sex- and context-dependent effects of acute isolation on vocal and non-vocal social behaviors in mice. PLoS ONE. 16(9): e0255640 (* co-first authorship) [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., Tran, H.†, DeRosa, H., Roderick, R. C.†, & Kentner, A. C. (2021). Hidden Talents: Poly (I:C)-induced maternal immune activation improves mouse visual discrimination performance and reversal learning in a sex-dependent manner. Genes, Brain and Behavior. e12755 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., Mohammed, R.†, Tran, H.†, Erickson, M.†, & Kentner, A. C. (2021). Poly (I: C)-induced maternal immune activation modifies ventral hippocampal regulation of stress reactivity: prevention by environmental enrichment. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 95, 203-215 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., Rondón-Ortiz, A., Lima-Queiroz, E., Puracchio, M.†, Roderick, R. C.†, Kentner, A. C., (2020) Therapeutic efficacy of environmental enrichment on behavioral, endocrine, and synaptic alterations in an animal model of maternal immune activation. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health. 3, 100043 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., Castelli, F. R., Wang, Y.†, Auger A. P., and Marler, C. A., (2020)  Testosterone related behavioral and neural mechanisms associated with location preferences: A model for territorial establishment. Hormones & Behavior. 121, 104709 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., Fuxjager, M. J., McLamore, Q.†, Marler, C. A., (2019) Rapid effects of testosterone on social decision-making in a monogamous California mouse (Peromyscus californicus). Hormones & Behavior. 115, 104544 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., and Liu, D. (2018) Aggression and plasma testosterone in response to encounters  with receptive vs. non-receptive females in male golden hamsters. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 96: 876-881 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., and Marler, C. A. (2016) Social and physical environments as a source of individual variation in the rewarding effects of testosterone in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Hormones & Behavior. 85: 30-35 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., and Liu, D. (2015) Removal of the vomeronasal organ impairs predator odor detection in female golden hamsters. Animal Biology. 65(1): 1-12 [pdf]

  • Zhao, X., and Marler, C. A. (2014) Pair bonding prevents reinforcing effects of testosterone in male California mice in an unfamiliar environment. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 281(1788): 20140985 [pdf]

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Review paper and book chapters

​

  • Monari, P. K., Hammond, E. R., Zhao, X., Maksimoski, A. N., Petric, R., Malone, C. L., Riters, L. V., Marler, C. A., (2024) Conditioned preferences: Gated by experience, context, and endocrine systems. Hormones & Behavior. 161:105529

  • Rieger, N., Fuxjager, M. J., Trainor, B. C., Zhao, X., and Marler, C. A. (2018) Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Plasticity in the Form of Winner and Loser Effects. In Handbook of Social Neuroendocrinology. Oxford University Press.

  • Fuxjager, M. J., Zhao, X., Riger, N., and Marler, C. A. (2017) Why animals fight: uncovering the function and mechanisms of territorial aggression. In Handbook of Comparative Psychology. American Psychological Association: Washington DC.

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