How prenatal and teenage alcohol exposure change the brain region for emotion and pain
Anterior Cingulate Dysfunction in a PAE-AIE Combined Model During Protracted Abstinence
This work looks at how alcohol exposure before birth and during adolescence changes brain chemistry in the anterior cingulate cortex, which may relate to anxiety, pain sensitivity, and later alcohol problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Binghamton, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177713 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are comparing groups exposed to alcohol before birth, during adolescence, or both, and following long-term abstinence to see lasting brain changes. They will examine dopamine and glutamate signaling and the balance of excitation and inhibition in the anterior cingulate cortex using molecular and electrophysiological methods and behavioral measures of anxiety and pain. The project focuses on how combined early-life hits (prenatal + adolescent) alter circuits that link addiction and pain. Results aim to point toward biological targets that could be relevant for people with histories of early alcohol exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure or heavy/intermittent alcohol use during adolescence who experience anxiety, heightened pain sensitivity, or problematic drinking would be the most directly relevant group.
Not a fit: People without prenatal or adolescent alcohol exposure or whose symptoms are due to unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal brain mechanisms that lead to new treatments to reduce anxiety, chronic pain sensitivity, or addiction risk in people exposed to alcohol early in life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown that prenatal or adolescent alcohol exposure can change brain dopamine systems and behavior, but combining both exposures and defining long-term cortical effects is less established and has not yet produced proven clinical treatments.
Where this research is happening
Binghamton, United States
- State University of Ny,binghamton — Binghamton, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diaz, Marvin Rafael — State University of Ny,binghamton
- Study coordinator: Diaz, Marvin Rafael
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.