Alexxai Kravitz is associate professor of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis, where he leads a team of researchers that focuses on understanding how the brain mediates feeding and obesity in mice. In addition to a passion for understanding feeding, his lab has a strong interest in developing open-source hardware devices to study rodent behavior, and in adopting open-science practices for neuroscience research.
Alexxai Kravitz
Associate professor of psychiatry
Washington University in St. Louis
From this contributor
Unleashing the power of DIY innovation in behavioral neuroscience
Widespread adoption of open-source tools calls for more support and training.
Unleashing the power of DIY innovation in behavioral neuroscience
By
Alexxai Kravitz, Mark Laubach
2 April 2024 | 0 min watch
Explore more from The Transmitter
Genetic profiles separate early, late autism diagnoses
Age at diagnosis reflects underlying differences in common genetic variants and developmental trajectories among people with autism.
Genetic profiles separate early, late autism diagnoses
Age at diagnosis reflects underlying differences in common genetic variants and developmental trajectories among people with autism.
By
Natalia Mesa
27 November 2025 | 5 min read
To persist, memories surf molecular waves from thalamus to cortex
During the later stages of learning, the mouse brain progressively activates transcriptional regulators that drive memory consolidation.
To persist, memories surf molecular waves from thalamus to cortex
During the later stages of learning, the mouse brain progressively activates transcriptional regulators that drive memory consolidation.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
26 November 2025 | 4 min read
Sex hormone boosts female rats’ sensitivity to unexpected rewards
During the high-estradiol stages of their estrus cycle, female rats learn faster than they do during other stages—and than male rats overall—thanks to a boost in their dopaminergic response to reward, a new study suggests.
Sex hormone boosts female rats’ sensitivity to unexpected rewards
During the high-estradiol stages of their estrus cycle, female rats learn faster than they do during other stages—and than male rats overall—thanks to a boost in their dopaminergic response to reward, a new study suggests.
By
Angie Voyles Askham
26 November 2025 | 5 min read