Research Interest

  • Evolution of molecular components of the nervous system
  • Gene therapy for genetic disorders
  • How pain alters cognitive function and leads to co-morbid addiction
  • How pain is altered by cognitive state

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

Hemispheric differences in the number of parvalbumin-positive neurons in subdivisions of the rat basolateral amygdala complex.
Butler RK, Oliver EM, Fadel JR, Wilson MA Brain Res. 2018 Jan 1678 214-219
Distinct neuronal populations in the basolateral and central amygdala are activated with acute pain, conditioned fear, and fear-conditioned analgesia.
Butler RK, Ehling S, Barbar M, Thomas J, Hughes MA, Smith CE, Pogorelov VM, Aryal DK, Wetsel WC, Lascelles BDX Neurosci. Lett. 2017 Nov 661 11-17
Activation of corticotropin releasing factor-containing neurons in the rat central amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis following exposure to two different anxiogenic stressors.
Butler RK, Oliver EM, Sharko AC, Parilla-Carrero J, Kaigler KF, Fadel JR, Wilson MA Behav. Brain Res. 2016 May 304 92-101
Comparison of the activation of somatostatin- and neuropeptide Y-containing neuronal populations of the rat amygdala following two different anxiogenic stressors.
Butler RK, White LC, Frederick-Duus D, Kaigler KF, Fadel JR, Wilson MA Exp. Neurol. 2012 Nov 238 1 52-63
Fear-induced suppression of nociceptive behaviour and activation of Akt signalling in the rat periaqueductal grey: role of fatty acid amide hydrolase.
Butler RK, Ford GK, Hogan M, Roche M, Doyle KM, Kelly JP, Kendall DA, Chapman V, Finn DP J. Psychopharmacol. (Oxford) 2012 Jan 26 1 83-91
Molecular and electrophysiological changes in the prefrontal cortex-amygdala-dorsal periaqueductal grey pathway during persistent pain state and fear-conditioned analgesia.
Butler RK, Nilsson-Todd L, Cleren C, Léna I, Garcia R, Finn DP Physiol. Behav. 2011 Oct 104 5 1075-81
Activation of phenotypically-distinct neuronal subpopulations of the rat amygdala following exposure to predator odor.
Butler RK, Sharko AC, Oliver EM, Brito-Vargas P, Kaigler KF, Fadel JR, Wilson MA Neuroscience 2011 Feb 175 133-44

Professional Associations/Affiliations

  • Society for Neuroscience (2009)