title: Perspectives on the neuroscience of alcohol from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
abstract: Mounting evidence over the last 40 years clearly indicates that alcoholism (alcohol dependence) is a disorder of the brain. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has taken significant steps to advance research into the neuroscience of alcohol. The Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (DNB) was formed within NIAAA in 2002 to oversee, fund, and direct all research areas that examine the effects of alcohol on the brain, the genetic underpinnings of alcohol dependence, the neuroadaptations resulting from excessive alcohol consumption, advanced behavioral models of the various stages of the addiction cycle, and preclinical medications development. This research portfolio has produced important discoveries in the etiology, treatment, and prevention of alcohol abuse and dependence. Several of these salient discoveries are highlighted and future areas of neuroscience research on alcohol are presented.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroscience and Behavior, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: reillymt@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroscience and Behavior, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroscience and Behavior, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D054563:National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.) / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends*; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: addiction; alcohol; animal models; behavior; dependence; genetics; preclinical medications development