Social isolation recruits amygdala-cortical circuitry to escalate alcohol drinking.

ABSTRACT: How do social factors impact the brain and contribute to increased alcohol drinking? We found that social rank predicts alcohol drinking, where subordinates drink more than dominants. Furthermore, social isolation escalates alcohol drinking, particularly impacting subordinates who display a greater increase in alcohol drinking compared to dominants. Using cellular resolution calcium imaging, we show that the basolateral amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex (BLA-mPFC) circuit predicts alcohol drinking in a rank-dependent manner, unlike non-specific BLA activity. The BLA-mPFC circuit becomes hyperexcitable during social isolation, detecting social isolation states. Mimicking the observed increases in BLA-mPFC activity using optogenetics was sufficient to increase alcohol drinking, suggesting th

SUBMITTER: Patel RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10984017 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature