Dr. Karen Bales

Biography

Karen Bales is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at the University of California, Davis, where she also serves as the interim director of the California National Primate Research Center. She is a past president of the American Society of Primatologists and the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Primatology. Her research focuses on the physiology and neurobiology of social bonding, particularly in monogamous species such as prairie voles and titi monkeys. She investigates the role of neuropeptides like oxytocin and vasopressin in forming pair-bonds and parental behaviors, and her current studies, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, explore the kappa-opioid and oxytocin systems in social buffering during separation. Bales has published extensively on these subjects, contributing significantly to the understanding of social behaviors in both monogamous and polygynous species. She teaches courses in biological psychology, integrating laboratory research experiences on social behavior, hormones, and neuroanatomy for undergraduates.

Research Interests