Prefrontal brain circuits linking arousal and drinking behavior
Official title: Prefrontal cortical microcircuit mechanisms for reciprocal interactions between arousal and ethanol consumption
Funded at Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. · NIH-11374915 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist is studying how brain arousal and alcohol drinking influence each other using mice, to help people with alcohol use problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Piscataway, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $512,565 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030594-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374915 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with alcohol use difficulties in the future, for whom therapies targeting arousal-related brain circuits could be relevant.
✕Less likely to help
This study uses animal models; direct benefit to humans will depend on future translation of results.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced imaging in mice to watch brain activity while the animals willingly drink ethanol. It measures arousal through pupil size and records neuronal activity in the anterior cingulate cortex to see how arousal and drinking feed into each other over time. The goal is to uncover brain mechanisms that could lead to new treatments for alcohol use disorder in humans. The study combines two-photon calcium imaging with a voluntary ethanol intake setup to link neural signals with drinking behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide development of therapies that target brain arousal pathways to reduce drinking and relapse in AUD.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows ACC activity relates to arousal and drinking, supporting the potential for translational insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
Piscataway, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huda, Rafiq — Rutgers, the State Univ of N.j.
- Study coordinator: Huda, Rafiq
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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.