Brain circuit changes in the prefrontal cortex linked to compulsive drinking
Official title: Synaptic changes in the medial prefrontal cortex in the development of compulsive alcohol drinking
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11306578 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how repeated alcohol use rewires brain connections that weaken control over drinking for people with alcohol problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $351,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA028861-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306578 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with alcohol use disorder who struggle with compulsive or relapsing drinking would be the eventual beneficiaries of this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol problems or whose substance use issues are unrelated to compulsive drinking are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific work.
What this research studies
From your perspective as someone affected by alcohol use, this work studies how repeated drinking changes connections in the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain area important for decision-making and self-control. The team uses animal models (rats or mice) and hands-on lab methods like electrical recordings of neurons and optogenetics to map and manipulate specific circuits between prefrontal regions and areas such as the nucleus accumbens and amygdala. They examine these circuit changes after chronic alcohol exposure and during withdrawal, and test whether altering those circuits changes compulsive alcohol-seeking behaviors. The aim is to reveal brain mechanisms that make it hard to stop drinking and point toward targets for new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific brain circuit targets that lead to new treatments to reduce compulsive drinking and relapse.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have linked medial prefrontal circuit changes to compulsive alcohol seeking and shown that manipulating these circuits can alter drinking in rodents, but direct human treatments based on these findings remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kroener, Sven — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Kroener, Sven
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.