Brain circuits tying stress coping to later alcohol use
Official title: Corticolimbic circuitry in adaptive stress coping behavior and subsequent alcohol drinking
Funded at University of New Mexico · NIH-11162472 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work is looking at whether boosting a natural brain chemical (called 2‑AG) and strengthening a specific brain circuit can help poor stress coping and reduce later alcohol drinking, with attention to male–female differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $244,384 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AA029730-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162472 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have experienced trauma or have PTSD symptoms and who increase alcohol use afterward would be the group most likely to benefit from therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose alcohol use is unrelated to stress or trauma, or whose problems stem from other substances or medical causes, may be less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers use a rat model of traumatic stress to mimic how some people react differently after a scary event and later turn to alcohol. They expose animals to a predator odor that produces different coping behaviors, then measure who goes on to drink more alcohol. Scientists manipulate a pathway between the prelimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala and change levels of the natural brain chemical 2‑AG to see how those changes affect coping and drinking. The work uses tools like chemogenetics, optogenetics, and brain recordings to map how that circuit controls behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new brain-based targets (including the endocannabinoid 2‑AG system) for treatments that improve stress coping and help prevent alcohol misuse after trauma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies support a role for 2‑AG and corticolimbic circuits in stress and alcohol behaviors, but translating these findings into human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ornelas, Laura C. — University of New Mexico
- Study coordinator: Ornelas, Laura C.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Inhibitory Corticostriatal Circuits and Binge Drinking
This grant studies how specific brain circuits inhibit or promote binge drinking, with the goal of identifying targets to help people who struggle with alcohol use.
-
How X chromosome differences may influence alcohol drinking in mice
This project looks at how sex chromosomes, especially the X chromosome, might affect alcohol drinking behavior and related brain signals in mice, with the goal of informing human understanding and future therapies.
-
Estrogen’s quick signals and binge drinking in female mice
A study in female mice explores how fast, membrane-based estrogen signals influence brain circuits to drive binge alcohol drinking, with the goal of finding new ways to reduce excessive alcohol use.
-
Corticolimbic brain circuits and stress coping linked to alcohol use
This research looks at how brain circuits that control stress responses affect drinking behavior, with a focus on differences between males and females.
-
ADHD and adolescent drinking: how teen alcohol use affects thinking and behavior
A study with teens and young adults who have ADHD will look at how alcohol exposure during adolescence influences thinking, attention, and behavior.
-
Histone tweaks in brain cells linked to resilience against compulsive drinking
This NIH grant explores how changes in histone acetylation in specific brain cells may protect people from developing compulsive drinking behaviors.
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.