How teen binge drinking changes brain control circuits and flexible thinking
Frontolimbic circuitry, behavioral flexibility, and adolescent alcohol history
This research looks at whether heavy drinking in the teen years causes lasting changes in brain circuits that make it harder for teens and young adults to adapt their behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238089 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of work that compares people with and without a history of teen binge drinking and measures brain activity and behavior. The team uses brain imaging (MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy), EEG, and behavioral tests in people, and complementary experiments in rats to study brain chemistry and electrical signaling. They focus on the prefrontal cortex and connected brain regions that control flexible thinking, looking for shifts in the balance between excitation and inhibition. By combining human and animal approaches, they aim to connect past alcohol exposure to specific brain changes that affect how well someone adjusts to new situations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include teens or young adults with a history of adolescent binge drinking and comparison participants without that history who are willing to undergo brain scans and behavioral testing.
Not a fit: People whose cognitive problems are clearly due to unrelated neurological or developmental conditions, or those unwilling to participate in imaging or testing, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify brain targets or markers that lead to better prevention or treatments to restore flexible thinking after teen binge drinking.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human and animal studies have linked adolescent binge drinking to reduced behavioral flexibility and altered brain connectivity, but the detailed mechanisms remain under study.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boettiger, Charlotte a. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Boettiger, Charlotte a.
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.