The University of Texas at El Paso · BiologyDecision Neuroscience Lab
Alexander Friedman · El Paso, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Alexander Friedman's lab focuses on understanding how costs influence drug-seeking behavior and consumption. They develop computational and experimental models to explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these behaviors, particularly within specific brain regions associated with decision-making and craving. Their ultimate aim is to identify individuals at risk for relapse and to create interventions to help prevent it, especially in the context of the current substance use crisis in the U.S.
drug-seeking behaviorcost-benefit decision-makingneurobiologycomputational modelingsubstance use disorder
Research Aims
5AIM 01Validate a computational model of costly drug-taking behavior.
AIM 02Investigate the role of striosomal circuitry in drug-cost decision-making.
AIM 03Assess vulnerability to drug-taking under different cost paradigms.
AIM 04Explore the impact of stress and aging on drug-seeking behaviors.
AIM 05Identify neurocircuitry involved in effortful and punished drug-taking.
Skills the Lab Values
electrophysiologyoptogeneticsdata modelinganimal behavior assaysbehavioral economics experiments
Output against the department
Publications429top 10% of dept.107th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.1kbottom 49% of dept.528th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.