PSYC 17N: Think Before You Drink: Neurocircuitry of Alcohol Use Across the Developmental Lifespan
General Education Requirements
Course Description
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance of abuse across the world. In the United States, approximately 179 million (65% of the population) individuals drank alcohol in the past year. A relatively small, but highly significant portion of these individuals who drink ultimately reach criteria for an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Today, almost 15 million people in the U.S. struggle with an AUD. Many decades of research have sought to uncover the brain-based driving forces behind alcohol misuse, the consequences of alcohol on brain function and structure, and how we can effectively treat AUD. This course will first cover our current understanding of the brain circuits that drive alcohol craving, use and withdrawal. Then, we will explore alcohol’s effects on the brain throughout the lifespan, ranging from prenatal alcohol exposure, initiation of alcohol use in adolescence, emerging adults (including binge drinking in college), middle adulthood, and aging individuals at risk for cognitive decline. Lastly, this course will cover the state-of-the-art techniques being developed to help individuals achieve sobriety and recovery from AUD. This highly interactive seminar will engage and equip students with skills in critical thinking, evaluation of scientific research, and a deeper understanding of AUD as a brain-based disorder. Students will have the opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussions with treatment providers and AUD patients to gain a deeper understanding of the realities behind AUD treatment. In addition, the class will have a variety of writing assignments and a group project which will strengthen students’ skills in scientific communication. Overall, this course is intended to help students develop strong skills in thinking and reading like a scientist, understanding the complexities behind alcohol use and misuse across the lifespan and considering the reality of today’s treatment landscape for AUD.
Meet the Instructors: Claudia Padula & Daniel McCalley
Claudia Padula
“I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Scientist at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. I am passionate about my research, which focuses on the intersection between neuroscience and psychology to advance our understanding of alcohol use disorder and addiction. What I love most about my work is the bidirectional translation from clinic to science and back, so that all stakeholders have a say in the direction of future treatments. For example, my current research projects leverage my lab’s recent understanding of neural predictors of relapse in veteran’s with alcohol use disorder, so that we can modify clinical and neural risk factors in those suffering from this devastating disorder. I am also strongly driven to mentor the next generation of scientists, particularly those from backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in science and medicine. In addition, I am an academic mama to two wonderful little humans, a tiny dog and countless tropical plants. I like to balance my scientist brain with crafting, jewelry making, sewing and painting when I have a little time to myself.”
Daniel McCalley
“I am a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Claudia Padula’s lab within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. I completed my Ph.D. in neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, South Carolina, and my bachelors in neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My research focuses on developing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a therapeutic treatment for individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder. I am particularly interested in using cutting-edge neuroimaging techniques to study how brain function and structure are impacted among individuals with AUD, and how we may leverage this information to develop new treatments. Outside of my research, I am passionate about LGBTQIA+ advocacy, especially as it relates to LGBTQIA+ advancement and representation within the sciences. I genuinely love to teach and mentor students interested in pursuing research careers and encourage those taking this class to reach out. Outside of the lab, I spend most of my time in San Francisco, tending to my many plants, doing puzzles, and watching (and/or rewatching) the reality TV show Survivor.”
