Stephan Steidl

Stephan Steidl is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Loyola University Chicago. His research focuses on brain systems underlying appetitively motivated behaviors, particularly the role of the dopamine system and its afferent inputs from the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDTg). He employs techniques like in-vivo pharmacology, cell-specific lesions, and optogenetics in rodent models to study reward-seeking and drug-related behaviors.

Courses Taught:

• NEUR 101 Introduction to Neuroscience
• NEUR 300 Neuroscience Seminar
• PSYC 304 Statistics
• PSYC 378 Drugs and Behavior
• PSYC 387 Seminar in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

His research spans behavioral neuroscience, psychopharmacology, and neural circuits, with implications for understanding addiction mechanisms. Publications highlight studies on cocaine sensitization, nicotine effects, muscarinic receptors, and dopamine dynamics. While no explicit awards are listed, his work contributes significantly to reward system neuroscience.