How stress reaches the brain and promotes drinking habits ^{CEFR B1}

A new study led by Jun Wang in the neuroscience and experimental therapeutics department at the Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, Texas A&M, describes a clear biological link between stress and habit‑like behaviours such as drinking. The work was published in eLife and supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Researchers identified a direct pathway from brain stress centres — the central amygdala (CeA) and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) — to the dorsal striatum, the area that helps control actions and habits. Those stress centres send the peptide CRF (corticotropin‑releasing factor) into the dorsal striatum.

Within the dorsal striatum, CRF reaches cholinergic interneurons (CINs). These specialised cells release acetylcholine and keep behaviour flexible, so people can change actions instead of slipping into automatic habits. The team found that applying CRF made CINs more active and increased acetylcholine release, which supports learning and decision‑making. However, alcohol applied during early withdrawal weakened CRF’s ability to activate CINs and also slowed CIN activity. These effects help explain why stress can trigger relapse and why addiction leads to rigid, compulsive behaviour.

Jun Wang says that knowing the exact pathway and the cells involved suggests possible treatment targets, such as boosting CIN activity or supporting CRF signalling during withdrawal.