A thalamo-limbic neuropeptide circuit driving binge drinking behavior

Repeated cycles of binge drinking and withdrawal drive subsequent alcohol consumption that leads to alcohol dependence and mood disorders, so characterizing the neural circuitry underlying this risky behavior is essential to treating alcohol use disorders. We recently showed that neurons that produce the endogenous stress peptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) promote binge-like alcohol drinking and anxiety in mice, however the excitatory inputs that drive BNST CRF neuron activity to promote these behaviors have yet to be characterized.
Source: Alcohol - Category: Addiction Authors: Source Type: research