How alcohol changes sleep and memory brain circuits
Official title: Alcohol tolerance encoding in sleep and memory circuits
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-11179453 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a single alcohol exposure can alter brain circuits that control sleep and memory to better understand why alcohol can lead to lasting changes and addiction risk for adults who drink.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, Merced NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Merced, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $179,106 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AA031324-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11179453 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll people; its findings will be most relevant to adults who drink alcohol, especially those with disrupted sleep or early signs of alcohol misuse.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not exposed to alcohol, who do not have sleep problems, or who need immediate clinical treatment for alcohol dependence are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical research.
What this research studies
Researchers use lab models to trace specific brain cells that link sleep regulation and rapid alcohol tolerance, focusing on a small group of circadian clock neurons identified in prior work. They examine how one acute ethanol exposure produces persistent changes in these neurons and related sleep behavior. By mapping where and how alcohol alters neural circuits, the team aims to explain how sleep circuitry may be 'misused' by ethanol. The work is preclinical and intended to build knowledge that could guide future human-focused research and therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal mechanisms that connect sleep disruption and early alcohol tolerance, informing new strategies to prevent or treat alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in humans and animal models have linked sleep changes and alcohol tolerance, but mapping specific neurons and mechanisms is a newer, largely preclinical effort.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, Merced
Merced, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolf, Frederick W — University of California, Merced
- Study coordinator: Wolf, Frederick W
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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.