Dopamine signals in the frontal brain and persistent alcohol drinking
Mesocortical neuromodulation in punishment-resistant alcohol drinking
['FUNDING_R01'] · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY · NIH-11330292
This work looks at how dopamine signals in a decision-making part of the brain may drive heavy, punishment-resistant drinking to help people with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11330292 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are using a new glowing sensor to watch dopamine release in the medial prefrontal cortex while animals take alcohol, to learn how those brain signals relate to drinking. They will record responses to different stimuli and track how dopamine patterns change as drinking starts and becomes repetitive. The team will also turn the mesocortical system up or down to see whether changing these signals alters alcohol-seeking and drinking behaviors. Although the experiments use mice, the goal is to reveal brain mechanisms that could guide future treatments for people with alcohol problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with alcohol use disorder—especially those who continue drinking despite negative consequences—would be the eventual beneficiaries of work like this.
Not a fit: Patients with mild or occasional drinking, those whose problems are driven mainly by other substances or medical issues, or anyone seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to directly benefit from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to brain circuits or signals to target with new therapies that reduce compulsive alcohol use.
How similar studies have performed: Animal research has long linked dopamine to addiction, but using genetically encoded fluorescent dopamine sensors in the prefrontal cortex is a recent and relatively novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY — Nashville, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SICILIANO, CODY — VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: SICILIANO, CODY
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.