Martha K. McClintock, PhD

Professor and Director of the Institute of Mind and Biology

Address:   HD 203
Phone:      (773) 702-2579
E-mail:      mkm1@uchicago.edu
Web:        http://imb.uchicago.edu/faculty/mcclintock.html

Primary:

Department of Psychology

Secondary:

Committees on Neurobiology, Evolutionary Biology and Human Development

Co-Director for the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Disparities Reseach

Education:

1969   AB     Psychology, Wellesley College
1971   AB     Graduate Program: Experimental
                     Psychology and Sociobiology
1972   MA    Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
1974   PhD   Psychology, University of Pennsylvania

Research Summary

Pheromones, sexual behavior and the social regulation of disease

My research focuses on the interaction between behavior and reproductive endocrinology. Because endocrine function and behavior are linked reciprocally, I focus on the behavioral control of neuroendocrinology, as well as the neuroendocrine mechanisms of behavior. Working with animals and humans, I have concentrated on the social and behavioral control of fertility and disease. In addition, I am interested in the role of hormone-behavior interactions in development throughout the life span. My current interests are: mechanisms and function of reproductive pheromones;effects of stress and loneliness on cancer risk and mortality;health disparities; aging, and psychosomatics in obstetrics and gynecology.

Some Selected Papers

LeFevre, J.L. and McClintock, M.K. (1991). Isolation and accelerates reproductive senescence and alters its predictors in female rats. Hormones and Behavior, 25: 258-272.

Bacon, S.J. and McClintock, M.K. (1994). Multiple factors determine the secondary sex ratio of postpartum-conceived Norway rat litters. Physiology and Behavior, 56: 359-366.

Stern, K. and McClintock, M.K. (1998). Regulation of ovulation by human pheromones. Nature, 392: 177-179.

Jacob, S. and McClintock, M.K. (2000). Psychological state and mood effects of steroidal chemosignals in women and men. Hormones and Behavior, 37: 57-58.

Cavigelli SA, McClintock MK. (2003) Fear of novelty in infant rats predicts adult corticosterone dynamics and an early death. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., Dec 23; 100 (26): 16131-6.

Jacob S., Spencer, N.A., Bullivant, S.B., Sellergren, S.A., Mennella, J.A., McClintock, M.K. (2004). Effects of breastfeeding chemosignals on the human menstrual cycle. Hum Reprod., Feb; 19(2): 422-9.

Updated 10/22/04.