LIN Seminar: “Amygdala-cortical substrates of alcohol use disorder” by Reesha Patel (Northwestern University)
November 16, 2023
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location
SELE 4289
Calendar
Download iCal FilePlease join us at 4pm in SELE 4298 on November 16th, 2023 for a LIN Seminar featuring "Amygdala-cortical substrates of alcohol use disorder" by Dr. Reesha Patel (Northwestern University)
Host: Dennis Sparta
Abstract: Preventing the development of an alcohol use disorder (AUD) and achieving continuous remission will limit the detrimental consequences of alcohol, costing the U.S. an estimated 95,000 alcohol-related deaths and $250 billion annually. In this talk, I will focus on two aspects of AUD: 1) What underlies individual variability in alcohol drinking -- making a subset of individuals susceptible? And 2) What neuroadaptations contribute to continued vulnerability to relapse? We found that social rank predicts alcohol drinking, where subordinates drink more than dominants, and that social isolation further exacerbates social rank differences in alcohol drinking. These data suggest that low social rank may be a potent risk factor for developing aberrant alcohol drinking patterns. In addition, we identified specific neuroimmune mechanisms that lead to behavioral patterns of alcohol withdrawal that promote relapse. Using a combination of mouse behavior, ex vivo whole-cell patch-clamp, cell-type specific transcriptomics, in vivo cellular resolution calcium imaging, and optogenetics, we resolved a role of amygdala-cortical circuits as a critical mediator in both social stress-associated alcohol drinking and withdrawal-related behaviors contributing to alcohol relapse.
Date posted
Jul 6, 2023
Date updated
Oct 3, 2023