How prenatal alcohol exposure affects spatial memory and the hippocampus
Official title: Neural Basis of Spatial Memory Deficits After Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Funded at University of New Mexico · NIH-11259465 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how drinking during pregnancy changes brain circuits that help babies and children learn and remember locations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | February 22, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $312,673 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA029700-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11259465 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People of any age with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure and difficulties with spatial memory would be the most relevant group for related clinical follow-up, although this project primarily uses animal models.
✕Less likely to help
People whose memory problems are unrelated to prenatal alcohol exposure or who have other causes of cognitive impairment may not benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
Scientists use animal models to mimic moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and study resulting problems with learning and remembering places. They record activity from many neurons in the hippocampus while animals perform navigation tasks to map how firing patterns and brain rhythms are altered. By linking these neural-circuit changes to the animals' behavior, the team aims to identify the systems-level brain mechanisms behind spatial memory deficits after prenatal alcohol exposure. This work is intended to provide a foundation for future approaches that could help people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to specific brain circuits or activity patterns to target for therapies that improve spatial memory in people affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior human and animal work has consistently shown spatial memory problems after prenatal alcohol exposure, but detailed neural-circuit explanations at the systems level remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, Benjamin J — University of New Mexico
- Study coordinator: Clark, Benjamin J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving how we predict electronic behavior in DNA for smarter therapies
A research project at the University of New Mexico uses AI, quantum chemistry, and simulations to better predict how DNA and related molecules behave, which could speed up designing safer, more effective therapies.
-
From fleeting states to therapeutics: understanding RNA targets to aid drug discovery
A grants project at UNM aims to understand how RNA structures in HIV-1 TAR influence binding with potential peptide drugs, using single-molecule methods and computer models.
-
Improve and test a veteran-focused alcohol help app
A project will upgrade and test an existing mobile program to help military veterans reduce risky drinking without requiring complete abstinence.
-
Which alcohol use disorder treatment will work best for you
This project uses data from past clinical trials and machine learning to predict how well different treatments for alcohol use disorder might work for individual patients.
-
Understanding how gut immunity defends against Toxoplasma
This project explores how the immune system in the intestinal lining fights a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, focusing on the MyD88 signaling pathways that help start and shape protection.
-
Understanding what drives alcohol use disorder and building a patient-friendly test
A researcher at a major university is studying the underlying mechanisms of alcohol use disorder to create a practical test that could guide personalized treatments.
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.