The brain's response to alcohol varies based on individual preferences, according to new research in rats published in eNeuro.
Not everyone is prone to developing an alcohol use disorder. Some people can drink every day without acquiring a dependence, yet far less drinking may drive another person into addiction. This difference may be explained by how the brain interprets alcohol as a reward. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) stores reward value and regulates reward seeking, so OFC activity corresponds to individual preferences for drugs. Its malfunctioning may be involved in drug use disorders.
To see if the same pattern held true for alcohol, the authors measured the OFC activity of rats while they alternated consuming sugar and alcohol.
Neurons in the OFC behaved differently in each rat but correlated with how much alcohol the rat consumed when given free access -- a marker of preference. The OFC in high-drinking rats responded to alcohol in a similar fashion to sugar, a universally rewarding substance to rats. But OFC responses to alcohol were suppressed in low-drinking rats, a sign that they did not find it as rewarding as sugar. If the brains of high-drinking rats find alcohol more rewarding than low-drinking rats, they may have a higher risk for developing a dependence.
https://www.eneuro.org/content/early/2020/07/13/ENEURO.0402-19.2020
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Forbitofrontal-cortex&filter=22
Preference for alcohol encoded by orbitofrontal cortex
- 966 views
- Added
Edited
Latest News
More influence of environme…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
The assembly of the human c…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Wiring of the human neocortex
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Abusive drugs hijack natura…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Mechanism of action of the…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
Other Top Stories
Copper is key in burning fat
Read more
How altered gut microbes cause obesity
Read more
Receptor in nasal cavity may be linked to preference for high-fat food
Read more
Signaling molecules can make neuronal extensions retract at a distance
Read more
Hunger' neurons in the brain are regulated by protein activated dur…
Read more
Protocols
A programmable targeted pro…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Publications
Distinct genetic and enviro…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Hippocampus-to-amygdala pat…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Integrative spatial analysi…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Time-series reconstruction…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Harnessing gastrointestinal…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar