# Notch-dependent microcircuit regulation of alcohol reward memory

> **NIH NIH R01** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $353,986

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Despite its devastating impact on society, there are few effective treatments currently available for alcohol use
disorder. The persistence of memories for the intoxication experience induces cravings, which can trigger
relapse to alcohol use in recovering individuals. The neural and molecular mechanisms underlying these
memories are complex, and despite recent advances, not well understood. This makes progress in finding
pharmacological targets challenging. Investigation of these memories in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster,
presents a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the memories for alcohol reward at
the level of genes, molecules, neurons and circuits. We propose to: 1) identify and investigate how simple
central brain circuits function to form memories of the rewarding experience of alcohol intoxication, 2) compare
how these circuits function for different forms of reward memory.
Specifically, this research will reveal how dopaminergic microcircuits function to assign the rewarding
properties of alcohol to associated cues, and how Notch signaling mediates neuronal plasticity within this
circuit. This will be informative for understanding basic neural and molecular mechanisms underlying memory
formation in addition to investigating how alcohol co-opts the brain's natural reward-related memory
mechanisms to result in alcohol cravings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982157
- **Project number:** 5R01AA024434-05
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Karla R. Kaun
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $353,986
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982157

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982157, Notch-dependent microcircuit regulation of alcohol reward memory (5R01AA024434-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982157. Licensed CC0.

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