The new research suggests that by stimulating particular neurons it could be possible to influence the drinking or alcohol. This is based on alcohol consumption altering the physical structure and function of certain neurons. These neurons are called medium spiny neurons and they are located in the dorsomedial striatum. This is part of the forebrain and a critical component of the reward system.
The neurons express D1-type dopamine receptors, among other functions. Dopamine receptors are implicated in many neurological processes, including motivation, pleasure, cognition, memory, learning, and fine motor control.
Essentially the study has found the D1 neuron determines whether one drink leads to two. There is also an associated pathway, D2 neurons, as to whether someone stops drinking, or not. The divergence between D1 and D2 neurons can be thought of like the branches from a tree — a signal goes one way or another.
The research suggests activation of the D2 neurons leads to a “no-go” signal and the likely cessation of drinking alcohol. Here lead researcher, Dr. Jun Wang, told Laboratory Roots: “At least from the addiction point of view, D2 neurons are good.”
This is not simple, however, for the research further suggests that the more a person drinks then the more likely it is that D2 becomes deactivated and therefore the “warning” to tell a person to stop drinking recedes and the ‘pleasure’ response from the D1 pathway continues to operate uninhibited. This can trigger a self-perpetuating cycle.
The pattern not only explains why some people continue drinking on a night-out well past the point when they are drunk, it also offers an explanation for the disease alcoholism. This possibility has proved popular with health advocacy groups, such as Recovery Revolution (@KLENandSOBR), which tweeted about the news.
There is a way forwards, however. The research suggests that by stimulating the D2 neurons, it is possible to reduce the desire to drink. This has been borne out in animal experiments. This has yet to be tried on human subjects, although such studies remain the long-term objective in relation to alcohol addiction.
The study was performed at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine; and the research has been published in the journal Biological Psychiatry. The paper is titled “Distinct Synaptic Strengthening of the Striatal Direct and Indirect Pathways Drives Alcohol Consumption.”
