Research Description

Stephanie Carmack’s research investigates the neurobiology of addiction and the relationship between learning, memory, and addiction. Her expertise covers a diverse range of techniques and analytic methods, including behavioral pharmacology, functional neuroimaging, histology, operant and classical conditioning, human physiological and cognitive monitoring, and statistical modeling. Her research has yielded important new insights on the involvement of negative emotional brain circuits in compulsive opioid taking and seeking.

Selected Publications

• Carmack, S.A., Keeley, R.J., Vendruscolo, J.C.M., Lowery-Gionta, E.G., Lu, H., Koob, G.F., Stein, E.A., & Vendruscolo, L.F. (2019). Heroin addiction engages negative emotional learning brain circuits in rats. The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
• Tunstall, B. J., Carmack, S. A., Koob, G. F., & Vendruscolo, L. F. (2017). Dysregulation of brain stress systems mediates compulsive alcohol drinking. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 13, 85-90.