Stopping alcohol-seeking by targeting brain circuits that drive drinking in men and women
Targeting the neural circuits controlling negative reinforcement to prevent alcohol seeking in males and females
This project aims to find brain circuit targets to reduce alcohol craving and drinking driven by avoiding bad feelings, in both men and women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11395415 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how specific brain cells in the nucleus accumbens drive drinking that helps people avoid negative feelings during abstinence. Using animal models, they will manipulate D1-type medium spiny neurons and connected circuits to see how those changes change negative-reinforcement behavior and alcohol seeking. The team will compare males and females to understand sex differences and will look at how prior alcohol exposure alters these circuits. The overall goal is to identify circuit mechanisms that could be developed into treatments to prevent relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with alcohol use disorder who drink or relapse mainly to avoid withdrawal and negative emotions, both men and women, would be the most relevant future candidates for therapies from this work.
Not a fit: People whose alcohol use is driven mainly by social factors, habit, other substances, children, or those with unrelated medical conditions may not benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to brain-specific targets for therapies that reduce relapse and alcohol-seeking driven by withdrawal or negative feelings, possibly tailored by sex.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and human imaging studies implicate the nucleus accumbens and D1 medium spiny neurons in addiction so manipulating these circuits has shown promise in preclinical models, but directly targeting negative-reinforcement-specific circuits is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Calipari, Erin — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Calipari, Erin
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.