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Neuronal activity reflecting the intention to drink alcohol is observed in the prefrontal cortex and blurred in rats with a family history of excessive alcohol consumption, according to a study by in Euro. This idea could lead to new treatments for alcohol-related disorders.
The prefrontal cortex is a region of the brain involved in decision making that becomes active before a behavior is initiated, indicating intent. David Linsenbardt, Nicholas Timme and Christopher Lapish at Indiana University? The Purdue University Indianapolis has studied neuronal activity in the prefrontal cortex to determine if it encodes the intention to consume alcohol.
The Linsenbardt team compared activity before and during alcohol consumption in two types of rats. One model has a family history of alcohol abuse, while the other did not have this family history. The prefrontal cortex was active during consumption in both types of rats, but only prior to consumption in rats with no family history of alcohol consumption.
These results suggest that the prefrontal cortex directly encodes the intention to consume alcohol, but less in those with a higher risk of alcohol abuse. Restoring prefrontal cortex activity in individuals predisposed to over-consumption of alcohol may provide a novel approach to the treatment of alcohol-related disorders.
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