Why some brains and behaviors lead to heavier drinking
Project 2: Mechanisms underlying vulnerability to ethanol self-administration: behavioral and brain imaging studies in group-housed monkeys
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11238064
This project looks for brain and behavior patterns tied to heavy drinking to help people with alcohol problems.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11238064 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers study group-housed monkeys that have been drinking alcohol for years to learn what brain differences and decision-making traits link to heavy versus light drinking. They use MRI scans to image brain structure, function, and connectivity and run touchscreen tests that measure flexibility, impulsive choice, and resistance to punishment. The team will also add a period of stopped alcohol access to see which brain and behavior measures change during abstinence. Results aim to translate findings from these long-term animal models to better understand risk and recovery in people with alcohol use disorder.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with heavy drinking or alcohol use disorder are the population most likely to benefit from the knowledge generated by this work.
Not a fit: People without alcohol problems or those with substance issues unrelated to alcohol may not receive direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal brain and behavioral markers that help predict who is at risk for heavy drinking and who may recover during abstinence, guiding better prevention and treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human and nonhuman primate imaging and behavioral studies have linked brain circuits to heavy drinking, and this project builds on those results with long-term, group-housed monkey models and home-cage cognitive testing.
Where this research is happening
WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES
- WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — WINSTON-SALEM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CZOTY, PAUL W. — WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: CZOTY, PAUL W.
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.