OEB Seminar Series: Karla Kaun

Karla Kaun 
Associate Professor 
Department of Neuroscience 
Brown University

Neuromolecular mechanisms underlying approach-avoidance conflict in alcohol self-administration

Abstract: The escalation of alcohol self-administration is a critical factor in the transition from alcohol use to compulsive drinking, a significant global health concern. While much research has focused on the neural mechanisms driving excessive alcohol intake, there is a pressing need to understand the neural and molecular substrates that underlie individual differences in alcohol preference and seeking. This understanding is essential for unraveling why escalation occurs in some individuals but not others, which is key to addressing variability in motivated response. Using Drosophila melanogaster, an ideal model due to its well-characterized neural circuits and genetic tools, we developed a 3-day operant paradigm to assess behaviors related to self-administration of volatilized ethanol. Our findings reveal a simple 2-neuron cholinergic and dopaminergic circuit within the mushroom body that modulates ethanol preference, with implications for how experience shapes this preference over time. We identified dopamine receptors within this circuit that influence ethanol preference, highlighting how individual variation in motivated behavior may emerge from specific neural pathways. Finally, we identified transcriptional changes that are epigenetically regulated within our genetically homogenous population. These insights are critical for understanding the mechanisms that drive alcohol preference, which can predict the likelihood of developing dependence.

Host: OEB Postdoctoral Researchers