How the cerebellum may drive alcohol addiction
Investigation of cerebellar involvement in AUD
This project looks at how the cerebellum and its connections to the brain's reward centers react to alcohol cues in people with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11377328 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part in brain imaging where researchers compare people with alcohol use disorder to people without to see how the cerebellum signals before and after expected or unexpected events. The team will use functional MRI to measure activity and connectivity between cerebellar deep nuclei and the ventral tegmental area while participants view alcohol-related and neutral cues. Findings from animal experiments guide the human tests to see whether prediction signals and prediction errors in cerebellar circuits are altered in AUD. Results aim to point toward brain circuit targets that could be relevant for preventing craving or relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who can safely undergo MRI scans and follow study procedures would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without alcohol use disorder or those who cannot have an MRI (for example due to implanted metal devices or severe claustrophobia) are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new brain circuit targets for treatments to reduce craving or relapse in alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown rewarding cerebellar projections to the VTA and preliminary human fMRI data support cerebellar involvement, but translating this into treatments is still novel.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desmond, John E — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Desmond, John E
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.