How prenatal alcohol exposure changes brain circuits that control thinking and memory
Official title: C4-Effects on Corticothalamic function
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-11392550 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how exposure to alcohol before birth affects brain communication between key areas, and how this may lead to problems with memory and flexible thinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2014 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $213,027 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AA022534-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392550 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with FASD or caregivers seeking information about how early life exposure affects brain circuits and potential future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Results may not directly benefit individuals without FASD or without interest in brain-circuit therapies.
What this research studies
If you or your child were affected by drinking during pregnancy, this project studies why executive function and memory can be impaired. Scientists will record brain activity in mice to understand how prenatal alcohol exposure changes corticothalamic connections and related behaviors. They will look at resting brain signals and during tasks that test visuospatial memory and rule-switching, aiming to link brain changes with cognitive outcomes. The research also investigates possible biomarkers in blood and how myelination in important circuits may be altered. The ultimate goal is to inform targeted therapies that could improve cognitive function in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding the brain changes caused by prenatal alcohol exposure could lead to targeted treatments that improve memory and flexible thinking for people with FASD.
How similar studies have gone: Past research has linked corticothalamic circuitry changes to cognitive deficits, but this study seeks to map functional connectivity changes in detail for FASD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Linsenbardt, David Nathaniel — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Linsenbardt, David Nathaniel
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.