A Brain Region for Resisting Alcohol’s Allure

University of Utah neuroscientists report that when the brain’s lateral habenula is chronically inactivated in rats, they repeatedly drink to excess and are less able to learn from the experience. The animal study, recently published online in PLOS ONE, has implications for understanding behaviors that drive alcohol addiction. The lateral habenula is activated by bad experiences, yet rats with an inactivated lateral habenula sought out the juice more than control animals, even though it meant a repeat of the bad experience. The researches think the lateral habenula likely works in one of two ways. The region may regulate how badly an individual feels after over-drinking. Alternatively, it may control how well an individual learns from their bad experience. To learn more about the study, click here.