Larry J. Young

Larry James Young (June 16, 1967 – March 21, 2024) was an American psychiatrist who was the William P. Timmie Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine. He was head of the Division of Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychiatric Disorders at Emory National Primate Research Center. Young studied how genetic, cellular and neurobiological mechanisms regulate complex social behavior, including social cognition and social bonding. His research focuses heavily on the roles of the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin in regulating the neural processing of social signals and social attachment.

Young developed behavioral paradigms that are useful for screening drugs that enhance social cognition, and the development of novel strategies for drug discovery in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Young was also the director of the Center for Translational Social Neuroscience at Emory University, which brings together scientists and clinicians in the Atlanta area who are focused on understanding and healing the human brain. Young's work has also been the subject of a National Geographic documentary.

Early life Young was born in Sylvester, Georgia, in 1967, and grew up on his family's peanut farm. Compared to the expanse of his scientific career, he had very little growing up. He kept many pets, such as a possum which he is said to have carried around on his head. Through these childhood experiences, he became interested in the biological sciences. He completed his post-doc studies at Emory University, focusing his research on the role and influence of genes in social expression.

Scientific work with prairie voles

While at Emory University, Young conducted experiments on prairie voles, to demonstrate the role that genes play in forming social bonds. and with National Geographic making a documentary on Young's work.

Personal life and death In 1985, Young married Michelle Willingham; they had three children and later divorced.

Publications

According to Google Scholar, Young's works have been cited over 47,000 times giving him an h-index of 111. Some significant publications are: