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Sierra Stringfield, Ph.D.

  • Assistant Professor, Neuroscience

Education & Training

  • PhD – University of North Carolina (2017)

Representative Publications

Link to full publication list: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=I2uLa5gAAAAJ&hl

Stringfield, S.J., Torregrossa, M.M. Intravenous self-administration of delta-9-THC in adolescent rats produces long-lasting alterations in behavior and receptor protein expression. Psychopharmacology 238, 305–319 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-020-05684-9

Sierra J Stringfield, Bryson E Sanders, Jude A Suppo, Alan F Sved, Mary M Torregrossa, Nicotine Enhances Intravenous Self-administration of Cannabinoids in Adult Rats, Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 25 (5), 1022–1029, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntac267

Bender, B. N., Stringfield, S. J., Torregrossa, M.M. Changes in dorsomedial striatum activity during expression of goal-directed vs. habit-like cue-induced cocaine seeking. Addiction Neuroscience, 11, 100149 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addicn.2024.100149.

Stringfield, S.J., Madayag, A.C., Boettiger, C.A. et al. Sex differences in nicotine-enhanced Pavlovian conditioned approach in rats. Biol Sex Differ 10, 37 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13293-019-0244-8\

S.J. Stringfield, S.J., Higginbotham, J.A., Wang, R., Berger, A.L., McLaughlin, R.J., Fuchs, R.A.

Role of glucocorticoid receptor-mediated mechanisms in cocaine memory enhancement. Neuropharmacology, 123, 349-358, (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.05.022

Research Interests

Our research focuses on understanding neuronal circuits affected by external factors, particularly stress and substance use. We aim to identify markers of vulnerability and resilience, with a special emphasis on developmental periods like adolescence. During these critical growth phases, exposure to stress and drugs can significantly influence neurotransmitter systems and circuit maturation. Our work investigates how these changes occur under normal conditions and how they are altered by stressors. We explore how prior neurophysiological or genetic differences may predispose individuals to developing neuropsychological disorders such as substance use, mood, and anxiety disorders.

The lab focuses on regions of the brain that are commonly impacted by drug exposure, such as the prefrontal cortex. We study the influence of substances use during adolescence, particularly nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol, comparing their effects during this critical period to the effects of substance use in adulthood. Our research employs a range of techniques, including fiber photometry, optogenetics, and electrophysiology, to measure and manipulate neuronal activity during behavior. We investigate cellular-level changes in neurotransmission, neuromodulation, and receptor expression, as well as alterations in intracellular machinery.

By characterizing both individual differences and generalized trajectories of development, we seek to uncover markers for vulnerability and resilience to these external insults. Our research aims to understand how these stressors affect learning, memory, and cognition as a whole, while also exploring the specific and important differences between various substances and exposures. Through this comprehensive approach, we strive to contribute to a deeper understanding of how environmental factors interact with neural development, potentially informing future interventions and treatments for neuropsychological disorders.