How stress and long-term drinking change the brain
8/8: INIA Stress and Chronic Alcohol Interactions: Cross-species plasticity signatures of alcohol and stress
Researchers are comparing how stress and heavy drinking alter brain cells and behavior to help people with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295414 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have struggled with heavy drinking or stress, this research looks at how those experiences change brain cells and behavior. The team will perform detailed behavioral testing and advanced brain recordings in animals and use computer-based analysis to find repeating patterns across species. They will focus on regions such as the prefrontal cortex to pinpoint the specific neurons that link stress, thinking problems, and drinking. The hope is to identify biological targets that could lead to better treatments for people with alcohol use disorder.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a history of heavy drinking or diagnosed alcohol use disorder, especially those who notice stress-related worsening or cognitive difficulties, would be the most relevant group for related clinical activities.
Not a fit: People without alcohol problems or whose symptoms are unrelated to stress or cognitive changes are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal specific brain-cell targets that lead to more precise treatments for stress-related drinking and cognitive issues in alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and human research links stress and prefrontal circuits to drinking, but the deep, neuron-level cross-species mapping used here is relatively new with limited direct clinical proof so far.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Siciliano, Cody — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Siciliano, Cody
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.