Gabriela Lopez

Gabriela Lopez is a neuroscience PhD candidate at Northwestern University and an intern at Drug Discovery News. She earned her master’s degree from Northwestern University in 2021 and has articles published in Science and Scientific Reports. Gabriela currently studies the role of the dopamine system in avoidance learning. Outside of writing and science, Gabriela loves to dance and crochet gifts for her friends and family.

Articles by Gabriela Lopez

A brain with a light shining in the middle. The brain is on a blue background surrounded by waveforms in a lighter blue color.

Sep 12, 2024|4 min read

By Gabriela Lopez

Neurostimulation shines a light on dopamine brain circuits

Stimulating dopamine neurons in adolescent mice rescued cognitive deficits associated with future development of neuropsychiatric disorders.

A cartoon of a woman with arrows pointing to her gut and her brain in a circular fashion. The woman is also surrounded by images of cells, pills, and atoms.

Dec 05, 2023|5 min read

By Gabriela Lopez

The gut microbiome influences drug addiction

Researchers discovered that microbial short chain fatty acids influence drug seeking behavior in rats, revealing potential new therapeutic targets for cocaine use disorder.