Journal Articles

Up-to-date list also available here.

  1. Chen R, Routh BN, Gaudet AD, Fonken LK. Circadian Regulation of the Neuroimmune Environment Across the Lifespan: From Brain Development to Aging. J Biol Rhythms. 2023 Oct;38(5):419-446. Epub 2023 Jun 26.

  2. Davis, L. K., Bumgarner, J. R., Nelson, R. J., & Fonken, L. K. (2023). Health Effects of Disrupted Circadian Rhythms by Artificial Light at Night. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 10(2), 229-236.

  3. Louise M. Ince, Jeffrey S. Darling, Kevin Sanchez, Kiersten S. Bell, Jennifer K. Melbourne, Lourdes K. Davis, Kimberly Nixon, Andrew D. Gaudet, Laura.K. Fonken. Sex differences in microglia function in aged rats underlie vulnerability to cognitive decline. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Volume 114. 2023. Pages 438-452.

  4. Chen, R.†, Routh, B.N.†, Straetker, J.E., Gibson, C.R., Weitzner, A.S., Bell, K.S., Gaudet, A.D., & Fonken, L.K.* (2023). Microglia depletion ameliorates neuroinflammation, anxiety-like behavior, and cognitive deficits in a sex-specific manner in Rev-erbα knockout mice. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity: 114: 287-298.

  5. Sanchez, K., Darling, J.S., Kakkar, R., Wu, S.L., Harper, C.S., Fonken, L.K.* (2023). Ovariectomy in mice primes microglia to exacerbate neuroinflammation and behavioral sickness responses. Brain Behavior and Immunity-Health: 30: 100638.

  6. Lee, S.E., Greenough, E.K., Fonken, L.K., & Gaudet, A.D.* (2023). Spinal cord injury in mice amplifies anxiety: A novel light-heat conflict test exposes increased salience of anxiety over heat. Experimental Neurology: 364: 114382.

  7. Hassell, J.E., Baratta, M.V., Fallon, I.P., Siebler, P.H., Karns, B.L., Nguyen, K.T., Gates, C.A., Fonken, L.K., Frank, M.G., Maier, S.F., & Lowry, C.A.* (2023). Immunization with a heat-killed preparation of Mycobacterium vaccae NCTC 11659 enhances auditory-cued fear extinction in a stress-dependent manner. Brain Behavior and Immunity: 107: 1-15.

  8. Hussain, T., Sanchez, K., Crayton, J., Saha, D., Jeter, C., Lu, Y., Abba, M., Seo, R., Noebels, J.L., Fonken, L.K., & Aldaz, C.M.* (2023). Wwox P47T loss-of-function mutation induces epilepsy, progressive neuroinflammation, and cerebellar degeneration in mice phenocopying human SCAR12. Progress in Neurobiology: 223: 102425.

  9. Carlson, ER, Guerin, SP, Nixon, K, Fonken, LK. (2022). The neuroimmune system-where aging and excess alcohol intersect. Alcohol: In press.

  10. Lee, W, Milewski, TM, Dwortz, MF, Young, RL, Gaudet, AD, Fonken, LK, Curley, JP (2022). Distinct immune and transcriptomic profiles in dominant versus subordinate males in mouse social heirarchies. Brain Behav Immun 103: 130-144.

  11. Sanchez K, Darling JS, Kakkar R, Wu SL, Zentay A, Lowry CA, Fonken LK (2022). Mycobacterium vaccae immunization in rats ameliorates features of age-associated microglia activation in the amygdala and hippocampus. Sci Rep. 2022 Feb 9;12(1):2165.

  12. Chen R, Weitzner AS, McKennon LA, Fonken LK (2021). Chronic circadian phase advance in male mice induces depressive-like responses and suppresses neuroimmune activation. Brain Behav Immun Health. 2021 Aug 24;17:100337.

  13. Gaudet AD, Fonken LK, Ayala MT, Maier SF, Watkins LR (2021). Aging and miR-155 in mice influence survival and neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. Brain Behav Immun. 2021 Oct;97:365-370.

  14. Chen R, Weitzner AS, McKennon LA, Fonken LK (2021). Light at night during development in mice has modest effects on adulthood behavior and neuroimmune activation. Behav Brain Res. 2021 May 7;405:113171.

  15. Loupy KM, Cler KE, Marquart BM, Yifru TW, D'Angelo HM, Arnold MR, Elsayed AI, Gebert MJ, Fierer N, Fonken LK, Frank MG, Zambrano CA, Maier SF, Lowry CA (2021). Comparing the effects of two different strains of mycobacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae NCTC 11659 and M. vaccae ATCC 15483, on stress-resilient behaviors and lipid-immune signaling in rats. Brain Behav Immun. 2021 Jan;91:212-229.

  16. Loupy KM, Lee T, Zambrano CA, Elsayed AI, D'Angelo HM, Fonken LK, Frank MG, Maier SF, Lowry CA (2020). Alzheimer's Disease: Protective Effects of Mycobacterium vaccae, a Soil-Derived Mycobacterium with Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Tubercular Properties, on the Proteomic Profiles of Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid in Rats. J Alzheimers Dis. 2020;78(3):965-987.

  17. Book Chapters: Darling JS, Sanchez K, Gaudet AD, Fonken LK. (2020) “The Role of Microglia in the Aging Brain: A Focus on Sex Differences,” in Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford

    University Press.

  18. Frank MG, Fonken LK, Watkins LR, Maier SF (2020). Acute stress induces chronic neuroinflammatory, microglial and behavioral priming: A role for potentiated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Brain Behav Immun. 2020 Oct;89:32-42.

  19. Weil, Z.M., Fonken, L.K., Walker, W.H., Bumgarner, J.R., Liu, J.A., Melendez-Fernandez, O.H., Zhang, N., DeVries, A.C., & Nelson, R.J. (2020) Dim light at night exacerbates stroke outcome. European Journal of Neuroscience: 52(9): 4139-4146.

  20. Daut, R.A., Ravenel, J.R., Watkins, L.R., Maier, S.F., Fonken, L.K.( 2020) The Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects of an Inescapable Stressor Are Time of Day Dependent. Stress , 1-27.

  21. Daut, R.A., Fonken, L.K. (2019) Circadian Regulation of Depression: A Role for Serotonin. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology,54, 100746.

  22. Fonken, L.K., Bedrosian, T.A., Zhang, N., Weil, Z.M., DeVries, A.C., Nelson, R.J. (2019) Dim Light at Night Impairs Recovery From Global Cerebral Ischemia. Experimental Neurology, 317, 100-109.

  23. Sanchez, K., Guerin, S.P., & Fonken, L.K. (2019). Anxiety in obesity: is neuroinflammation the critical link? Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 78, 7-8.

  24. Daut, R.A., Hartsock, M.J., Tomczik, A.C., Watkins L.R., Spencer, R.L., Maier, S.F., & Fonken, L.K. (2019). Circadian misalignment has differential effects on affective behavior following exposure to controllable or uncontrollable stress. Behavioural Brain Research 359: 440-445.

  25. Frank, M.G., Fonken, L.K., Watkins, L.R., & Maier, S.F. (2019). Microglia: neuroimmune-sensors of stress. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 94, 176-185

  26. Gaudet, A.D., Fonken, L.K., Ayala, M.T., D’Angelo, H.M., Bateman, E.M., Schleicher, W.E., Smith, E.J., Maier, S.F., Watkins, L.R. (2018). Spinal cord injury in rats disrupts diurnal rhythms. eNeuro: 5 (6).

  27. Gaudet, A.D., Fonken, L.K., Ayala, M.T., D’Angelo, H.M.,Smith, E.J., Bateman, E.M., Schleicher, W.E., Maier, S.F., Watkins, L.R. (2018). Spinal cord injury in rats dysregulated circadian rhythms in fecal output and liver metabolic indicators. J Neurotrauma 36 (12), 1923-1934.

  28. Fonken, L.K., Frank, M.G., D’Angelo, H.M., Heinze, J.D., Watkins, L.R., Lowry, C.A., & Maier, S.F. (2018). Mycobacterium vaccae immunization protects aged rats from surgery-elicited neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction. Neurobiology of Aging 71: 105-114.

  29. Frank, M.G., Fonken, L.K., Watkins, L.R., Maier, S.F., & Lowry, C.A. (2018). Could probiotics be used to mitigate neuroinflammation? ACS Chemical Neuroscience 10 (1), 13-15.

  30. Fonken, L.K., Frank, M.G., Gaudet, A.D., & Maier, S.F. (2018). Stress and aging act through common mechanisms to elicit neuroinflammatory priming. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 73: 133-138.

  31. Frank, M.G., Fonken, L.K., Dolzani, S.D., Annis, J.L., Siebler, P.H., Heinze, J.D., Schmidt, D., Watkins, L.R., Maier, S.F., & Lowry, C.A. (2018). M. vaccae treatment induces an anti-inflammatory milieu in the CNS: attenuation of stress-induced microglial priming, alarmins, and anxiety-like behavior. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 73: 352-363.

  32. Gaudet, A.D. & Fonken, L.K. (2018). Glial cells shape pathology and repair after spinal cord injury. Neurotherapeutics 15(3): 554-577.

  33. Sun, Q., Zhang, G., Chen, R., Wang, H., Jiang, A., Li, Z., Li, R., Kong, K., Fonken, L.K., Rajagopalan, S., Sun, Q., & Lui, C. (2018). Central IKK2 inhibition ameliorates air pollution mediated hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism dysfunction in mice with type II diabetes. Toxicological Sciences: 164 (1): 240-249.

  34. Fonken, L.K., Frank, M.G., Gaudet, A.D., D’Angelo, H.M., Daut, R.D. Hampson, E.C., Ayala, M.T., Watkins, L.R., & Maier, S.F. (2018). Neuroinflammatory priming to stress is differentially regulated in male and female rats. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 70: 257-267.

  35. Frank, M.G., Fonken, L.K., Annis, J., Watkins, L.R., & Maier, S.F. (2018). Stress disinhibits microglia via down-regulation of CD200: a mechanism of neuroinflammatory priming. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 69: 62-73.

  36. Gaudet, A.D., Fonken, L.K., Watkins, L.R., Nelson, R.J., & Popovich, P.G. (2018). microRNAs: Roles in regulating neuroinflammation. The Neuroscientist 24 (3): 221-245.

  37. Fonken, L.K., Kitt, M.M., Gaudet, A.D., Barrientos, R.M., Watkins, L.R., & Maier, S.M. (2016). Diminished circadian rhythms in microglia may contribute to age-associated neuroinflammatory priming. Neurobiology of Aging 47: 102-112.

  38. Fonken, L.K., Frank, M.G., Kitt, M.M., D’Angelo, H.M., Norden, D.M., Weber, M.D., Barrientos, R.M., Godbout J.P., Watkins, L.R., & Maier, S.F. (2016). The alarmin HMGB1 mediates age-induced neuroinflammatory priming. The Journal of Neuroscience 36 (30): 7946-7956.

  39. Gaudet, A.D.*, Fonken, L.K.*, Gushchina, L.V., Aubrecht, T.G., Maurya, S.K., Periasamy, M., Nelson, R.J., & Popovich, P.G. (2016). MicroRNA-155 deletion prevents diet-induced obesity in female mice. Scientific Reports 6: 22862. *equal contributors

  40. Fonken, L.K., Weber, M.D., Daut, R.A., Kitt, M.M., Frank, M.G., Watkins, L.R., & Maier, S.F. (2016). Stress induced neuroinflammatory priming is time of day specific. Psychoneuroendocrinology 66: 82-90.

  41. Fonken, L.K.*, Gaudet, A.D.*, Gaier, K.R.*, Nelson, R.J., & Popovich, P.G. (2016). MicroRNA-155 deletion reduces anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 63: 362-369. *equal contributors

  42. Frank, M.G., Weber, M.D., Fonken, L.K., Hershman, S.A., Watkins, L.R., & Maier, S.F. (2016). The redox state of the alarmin HMGB1 is a pivotal factor in neuroinflammatory and microglial priming: a role for the NLRP3 inflammasome. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 55: 215-224.

  43. Bedrosian, T.A., Fonken, L.K., & Nelson, R.J. (2016). Endocrine effects of circadian disruption. Annual Review of Physiology 78 (1).

  44. Fonken, L.K. & Nelson, R.J. (2016). Effects of light exposure at night during development. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 7: 33-39.

  45. Fonken, L.K., Frank, M.G., Kitt, M.M., Barrientos, R.M., Watkins, L.R., & Maier, S.F. (2015). Microglia inflammatory responses are controlled by an intrinsic circadian clock. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 45: 171-179.

  46. Fonken, L.K. & Nelson, R.J. (2014). The effects of light at night on circadian clocks and metabolism. Endocrine Reviews 35 (4): 648-670.

  47. Fonken, L.K., Meléndez-Fernández, O.H., Weil, Z.M., & Nelson, R.J. (2014). Exercise attenuates the effects of dim light at night on metabolism. Physiology and Behavior 124: 33-36.

  48. Lui C.*, Fonken, L.K.*, Wang, A., Maiseyeu, A., Bai, Y., Wang, T., Maurya, S., Ko, Y., Periasamy, M., Dvonch, T., Morishita, M., Brook, R.D., Harkema, J., Ying, Z., Mukherjee, B., Sun, Q., Nelson, R.J., & Rajagopalan, S. (2014) Central IKK inhibition prevents air pollution mediated peripheral inflammation and exaggeration of type II diabetes. Particle and Fibre Toxicology 11(1): 53. *equal contributors

  49. Fonken, L.K., Aubrecht, T.G., Melendez-Fernandez, O.H., Weil, Z.M., & Nelson, R.J. (2013). Dim light at night disrupts molecular circadian rhythms and increases body weight. Journal of Biological Rhythms 28(4): 262-71

  50. Fonken, L.K. & Nelson, R.J. (2013). Dim light at night increases depressive-like responses in male C3H/HeNHsd mice. Behavioural Brain Research. 243: 74-78.

  51. Fonken, L.K., Weil, Z.M., & Nelson, R.J. (2013). Dark nights reverse metabolic disruption caused by dim light at night. Obesity 21 (6): 1159-64.

  52. Bedrosian, T.A., Herring, K.L., Walton, J.C., Fonken, L.K., Weil, Z.M., & Nelson, R.J. (2013). Evidence for feedback control of pineal melatonin secretion. Neuroscience Letters 542: 123-5.

  53. Fonken, L.K., Lieberman, R.A., Weil, Z.M., & Nelson, R.J. (2013). Dim light at night exaggerates weight gain and inflammation associated with a high fat diet in male mice. Endocrinology 154 (10): 3817-25.

  54. Fonken, L.K. & Nelson, R.J. (2013). Mice exposed to dim light at night exaggerate inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 34: 159-63.

  55. Fonken, L.K., Haim, A., & Nelson, R.J. (2012). Dim light at night increases immune function in grass rats, a diurnal rodent. Chronobiology International. 29 (1): 26-34.

  56. Bedrosian, T.A., Fonken, L.K., Demas, G.E., & Nelson, R.J. (2012). Photoperiod-dependent effects of neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibition on aggression in Phodopus sungorus. Hormones and Behavior. 61 (2): 176-80.

  57. Fonken, L.K., Bedrosian, T.A., Michaels, H., Weil, Z.M., & Nelson, R.J. (2012). Short photoperiods attenuate central responses to an inflammogen. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 26 (4): 617-22.

  58. Fonken, L.K., Kitsmiller, E., Smale, L., & Nelson, R.J. (2012). Dim nighttime light impairs cognition and provokes depressive-like responses in a diurnal rodent. Journal of Biological Rhythms. 27 (4): 319-27.

  59. Fonken, L.K., Xu, X., Weil, Z.M., Chen, G., Sun, Q., Rajagopalan, S., & Nelson, R.J. (2011). Air pollution impairs cognition, provokes depressive-like behaviors, and alters hippocampal cytokine expression and morphology. Molecular Psychiatry. 16 (10): 987-995.

  60. Fonken, L.K., Xu, X., Weil, Z.M., Chen, G., Sun, Q., Rajagopalan, S., & Nelson, R.J. (2011). Inhalation of fine particulates alters hippocampal neuronal morphology. Molecular Psychiatry. 16 (10): 973.

  61. Fonken, L.K., Morris, J.S., & Nelson, R.J. (2011). Early life experiences affect adult delayed-type hypersensitivity in short- and long-photoperiods. Chronobiology International, 28 (2): 101-108.

  62. Bedrosian, T.A., Fonken, L.K., Walton, J.C., & Nelson, R.J. (2011). Chronic exposure to dim light at night suppresses immune responses in Siberian hamsters. Biology Letters, 7 (3): 468-471.

  63. Bedrosian, T.A., Fonken, L.K., Walton, J.C., Haim, A., & Nelson, R.J. (2011). Dim light at night provokes depression-like behaviors and reduces CA1 dendritic spine density in female hamsters. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 36 (7): 1062-9.

  64. Fenn, A.M.*, Fonken, L.K.*, & Nelson, R.J. (2011). Sustained melatonin treatment blocks body mass, pelage, reproductive and fever responses to short day lengths in female Siberian hamsters. Journal of Pineal Research, 51 (2): 180-186. *equal contributors

  65. Workman, J.L., Fonken, L.K., Gusfa, J., Kassouf, K., & Nelson, R.J. (2011). Post-weaning environmental enrichment reduces negative affective responses and interacts with behavioral testing to alter nNOS expression. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 100 (1): 25-32.

  66. Fonken, L.K. & Nelson, R.J. (2011). Illuminating the deleterious effects of light at night. F1000 Med Report, 3: 18.

  67. Fonken, L.K., Workman, J.L., Walton, J.C., Weil, Z.M., Morris, J.S., Haim, A., & Nelson, R.J. (2010). Light at night increases body mass by shifting the time of food intake. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107 (43): 18664-18669. * featured in F1000 and popular press

  68. Workman, J.L., DeWitt, S.J., Fonken, L.K., & Nelson, R.J. (2010). Environmental enrichment enhances delayed-type hypersensitivity in both short- and long-day Siberian hamsters. Physiology and Behavior, 99 (5): 638-643.

  69. Thomas, N.R., Fonken, L.K., LeBlanc, M., & Cornwell, C.A. (2010). Maternal separation alters social odor preference development in infant mice (Mus musculus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 124 (3): 295-301.

  70. Fonken, L.K., Finy, M.S., Walton, J.C., Weil, Z.M., Workman, J.L., Ross, J., & Nelson, R.J. (2009). Influence of light at night on murine anxiety- and depressive-like responses. Behavioural Brain Research. 205 (2): 349-354.