Brain circuits tying stress coping to later alcohol use
Corticolimbic circuitry in adaptive stress coping behavior and subsequent alcohol drinking
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 ID | NIH-11162472 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ornelas, Laura C. — University of New Mexico
- Study coordinator: Ornelas, Laura C.
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 below.