Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Executive Function

Shen
The study will investigate if prenatal alcohol exposure leads to immature neurodevelopment of the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain region controlling executive function.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) caused by prenatal alcohol exposure have high prevalence (2-5%) in the US. Impaired executive function might be the most common cognitive dysfunction in FASD. In the proposed studies, Shen will investigate if prenatal alcohol exposure leads to immature neurodevelopment of the medial prefrontal cortex, a brain region controlling the executive function, and how this effect contributes to deficits in executive function. She will also investigate if postnatal environmental intervention can promote the maturation of medial prefrontal cortex and rescue the deficits in executive function. The results could contribute to the development of effective interventions for FASD.

Principal Investigator
Roh-Yu Shen, PhD
Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions

Funding Agency
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Grant Number
R01-AA026421

Dates
2018-2023