My research interests focus on understanding how early life events influence brain development with a particular emphasis on adolescence. Negative factors (early life stress) or positive ones (drug treatments) shape brain maturation and behavior. Our goal is to identify neural circuits and signaling mechanisms that change with early manipulations. Our aim is to identify novel targets for preventative interventions. We use a variety of approaches to dissect circuits (MRI, laser scanning microdissection, and immunohistochemistry), biochemistry, and their behavioral expression (learned helplessness and self-administration).