Benjamin J Ragen, Ph.D. Department of Psychiatry NYU Langone Medical Center One Park Ave. New York, NY 10016 (646) 754-4814 e-mail: Benjamin.Ragen@nyumc.org Education and Training: NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY Post-doctoral Fellow Advisor: Alexander Neumeister/Charles Marmar 2014-present University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 2008-2014 M.A. Psychology; Ph.D. Psychology GPA 3.84 Advisor: Karen L. Bales. Dissertation title: Titi Monkey (Callicebus cupreus) Pair-Bonds and the Role of µ and κ Opioid Receptors. Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 2004-2008 B.A. Neuroscience GPA 3.77 Advisor: Hassan H. López. Senior Honors Thesis: The Effects of the Synthetic Cannabinoid, CP 55,940, on Sexual Reward and Behaviors in the Female Rat Honors: Magna cum laude, Skidmore College University Honors, Honors in Neuroscience, Phi Beta Kappa Relevant Work and Research Experience: California National Primate Research Center Endocrine Core Laboratory, Davis, CA Summer 2013 Ran and maintained the endocrine core laboratory. New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, NY Summer 2008 Research assistant studying the ontogeny of fear conditioning in rats Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY Summer 2007 Research assistant studying the effect of cannabinoid receptor antagonism on female sexual motivation. Summer 2006 Research assistant studying the effects of the antidepressant, bupropion, on sexual motivation in female rats.
Funding: Dukes Fund Travel Award 2013 University of California-Davis, Department of Psychology $500 UC Davis Psychology Dissertation Fellowship 2013 American Society of Primatologists Small Grant. 2010 Opioid Modulation of Social Attachment and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in a Monogamous Primate (Callicebus cupreus) $1500 Skidmore College Dean of Studies Student Opportunity Funds 2007 The Effects of the Synthetic Cannabinoid Agonist, CP 55,940, on Sexual Reward and Motivation in the Female Rat $2000 Publications: Ragen, B.J., Mendoza, S.P., Pagberg, J., Mason, W.A., Krubitzer, L., and Bales, K.L. Effects of prefrontal lesions on the pair-bond in the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus). IN PROGRESS Fisher-Phelps, M.L., Mendoza, S.P., Serna, S., Griffin, L.L., Schaefer, T.J., Jarcho, M.R., Ragen, B.J., and Bales, K.L. Laboratory simulations of mate-guarding as a component of the pair-bond in male titi monkeys, Callicebus cupreus. American Journal of Primatology. RESUBMITTED Ragen, B.J., Roach, A.J., and Chollack, C. Chronic stress, regulation of emotion and functional activity of the brain. Ed. Fink, G. Stress Concepts and Cognition, Emotion and Behavior. Elseveir IN PRESS Ragen, B.J., Seidel, J., Chollak, C., Pietrzak, R.H., and Neumeister, A. (2015). Investigational drugs under development for the treatment of PTSD. Expert Opinions in Investigational Drugs, 24: 659-672 Ragen, B.J., Freeman, S.M., Laredo, S.A., Mendoza, S.P., and Bales, K.L. (2015). µ and κ Opioid receptor distribution in the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus): Implications for social behavior and endocrine functioning. Neuroscience, 290: 421-434 Laredo, S.A., Steinman, M.Q., Robles, C.F., Ferrer, E., Ragen, G.J., Bales, K.L., and Trainor, B.C. (2015). Effects of defeat stress on behavioral flexibility in males and females: Modulation by the mu-opioid receptor. European Journal of Neuroscience, 41: 434-441 Neumeister, A., Seidel, J., Ragen, B.J., and Pietrzak, R.H. (2015). Translational evidence for the role of endocannabinoids in the etiology and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 51: 577-584
Ragen, B.J., Maninger, N., Mendoza, S.P. and Bales, K.L. (2015). The effects of morphine, naloxone, and κ opioid manipulation on endocrine functioning and social behavior in monogamous titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus). Neuroscience, 287: 32-42 Ragen, B.J., Maninger, N., Mendoza, S.P., Jarcho, M.R., and Bales, K.L. (2013). Presence of a pair-mate regulates the behavioral and physiological effects of opioid manipulation in the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus). Psychoneuroendocrinology, 38:2448-2461 Ragen, B.J. and Bales, K.L. (2013). Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Non-Human Primates. Eds. Choleris, E., Pfaff, D., and Kavaliers, M. Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Related Peptides in the Regulation of Behavior. Cambridge University Press. pp. 288-306 Ragen, B.J., Mendoza, S.P., Mason, W.A., and Bales, K.L. (2012) Differences in titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus) social bonds affect arousal, affiliation, and response to reward. American Journal of Primatology. 74: 758-769. López, H.H., Wurzel, G., and Ragen, B. (2007). The effect of acute bupropion on sexual motivation and behavior in the female rat. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 87.369-379. Awards: Third Place for Best Talk at UC Davis Psychology Department Conference 2012 American Society of Primatologists Best Poster Presentation 2010 Poster/Paper Presentations: Society for Neuroscience 2013 µ and κ opioid receptor binding in the forebrain of the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus) American Society of Primatologists 2013 The role of adult social bonds and the opioid system on emotional reactivity in the titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus) Society for Behavioral Neuroscience 2013 The effects of µ and κ opioid manipulation on endocrine functioning and social behavior in the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus) American Society of Primatologists 2012 The effects of µ and κ opioid manipulation in the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus) Society for Neuroscience 2011
Presence of a pair-mate regulates the behavioral and physiological effects of µ opioid manipulation in the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus) American Society of Primatologists 2011 µ Opioid Involvement in Social and Non-Social Behavior in the Titi Monkey (Callicebus cupreus) Society for Neuroscience 2010 Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology 2010 American Society of Primatologists 2010 Skidmore College Spring 2008 The Effects of the Synthetic Cannabinoid Agonist, CP 55,940, on Sexual Reward and Motivation in the Female Rat Society for Neuroscience Fall 2006 The effect of acute bupropion on sexual motivation and behavior in the female rat Skills: Autoradiography Radioimmunoassay Enzyme immunoassay Assay experience includes assaying for cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, pregnanediol, DHEAS, creatinine, oxytocin, and vasopressin in urine, saliva, and plasma Measuring behavior Animal handling with rodents and primates E-Prime AcqKnowledge Biopac Membership: American Society for Primatologists Society for Neuroscience Academic Services American Society of Primatologists Education Committee 2012 Professional Services
Reviewed submissions for Ethology Reviewed submissions for Current Psychiatry Reviews