Howard Fields (neuroscientist)

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Howard Fields is a prominent neuroscientist known for his pioneering research in the field of pain and opioid systems. His work has significantly contributed to the understanding of how pain is processed in the brain and how opioid drugs can modulate this process.

Early Life and Education

Howard Fields was born in New York City. He completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia University, where he developed an interest in neuroscience. He then pursued a medical degree at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he began his research on pain mechanisms.

Career

After completing his medical degree, Fields joined the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). At UCSF, he established a laboratory dedicated to the study of pain and analgesia. His research has focused on the neural circuits involved in pain perception and the role of endogenous opioids in modulating pain.

Research Contributions

Fields is best known for his discovery of the periaqueductal gray (PAG) region in the brain, which plays a crucial role in pain modulation. His work demonstrated that the PAG is a key site where opioids exert their analgesic effects. This discovery has had significant implications for the development of new pain treatments.

In addition to his work on the PAG, Fields has also studied the mechanisms of placebo analgesia and the role of dopamine in pain and reward. His research has provided valuable insights into the complex interactions between pain, emotion, and cognition.

Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Howard Fields has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to neuroscience. These include the Julius Axelrod Prize from the Society for Neuroscience and the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience.

Related Pages

• Neuroscience
• Pain
• Opioid
• Periaqueductal gray
• Placebo
• Dopamine
• University of California, San Francisco
• Stanford University School of Medicine
• Columbia University

See Also

• List of neuroscientists
• Pain management
• Analgesic