How alcohol changes anxiety-related brain circuits differently in men and women
Sex specificity of corticolimbic circuit activity and anxiety-like behavior after alcohol exposure
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11238094
This project looks at how alcohol exposure and withdrawal alter brain circuits linked to anxiety in males and females to inform better care for people with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11238094 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers use preclinical models to compare how the prelimbic prefrontal cortex and central amygdala respond to chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal in males versus females. They measure circuit activity and anxiety-like behaviors after prolonged ethanol exposure and during withdrawal. The team will test whether the neurosteroid allopregnanolone can restore inhibitory control in these circuits and reduce anxiety-like responses. Results aim to link specific brain changes to sex differences that could guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with alcohol use disorder who experience anxiety during or after alcohol use, including both men and women to capture sex differences, would be the relevant patient group for follow-up or related clinical work.
Not a fit: People without alcohol-related problems or whose anxiety stems from unrelated medical or psychiatric conditions may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to sex-specific strategies—including neurosteroid-based options—to reduce withdrawal anxiety and lower relapse risk for people with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies support neurosteroids acting on GABAA receptors to reduce withdrawal anxiety, but applying this to sex-specific corticolimbic circuit changes and targeting PrL→CeA connectivity is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HERMAN, MELISSA A — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: HERMAN, MELISSA A
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.
Conditions: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome