Michael Saddoris

Michael Saddoris is an Associate Professor in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, affiliated with the Center for Neuroscience. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University (2008). His research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying learning processes, with particular emphasis on how drug abuse (e.g., cocaine, alcohol) disrupts normal neurochemical signaling and behavioral outcomes. His work integrates electrophysiological, pharmacological, and behavioral approaches to study the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and related neural circuits.

Key research themes include: (1) the impact of early life stress on prefrontal cortex function and fear conditioning, (2) the role of dopamine signaling in reward processing and addiction, and (3) how circadian rhythms modulate extinction learning. His lab employs rodent models to investigate neural correlates of motivated behaviors, stress responses, and decision-making under risk/reward conditions.

Recent studies highlight his team's contributions to understanding cocaine-induced neuroadaptations, adolescent alcohol exposure effects on adult behavior, and the neurochemical basis of conditioned threat extinction. The Saddoris Lab actively investigates how neural circuits mediate adaptive and pathological behaviors, with implications for treating substance use disorders and stress-related psychiatric conditions.