Featured Paper of the Month Archives - NIDA IRP

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Featured Paper of the Month

Latent Classes of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Adult Substance-use Problems and Psychosocial Outcomes: Complex and Heterogeneous Associations.

Featured Paper of the Month – February 2026
Published in International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction by Emily Herberholz, Rachel Wolchok an David Epstein, et al. of the NIDA IRP Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment Section.

In this paper, we first showed that we could categorize people by specific patterns/types of ACE exposure, providing a more informative summary than the older approach of just tallying up each person’s total number of types of ACEs. Then we showed that even though ACE exposure can predict later SUD symptoms to a statistically significant degree in people who use alcohol or other drugs, the predictions are too imprecise for case-by-case decision-making

Distinct prelimbic cortex ensembles encode response execution and inhibition.

Featured Paper of the Month – January 2026
Published in PNAS by Rajtarun Madangopal, Ph.D. and  Bruce Hope, Ph.D. of the NIDA IRP Neuronal Ensembles in Drug Addiction Section.

In this study, researchers used single-cell calcium imaging to longitudinally track hundreds of brain cells (neurons) in rats across three phases: when they pressed a lever for food rewards (Training), as they learned to stop pressing when the reward was removed (Extinction), and when they resumed  pressing after a small, non-contingent reward was reintroduced (Reinstatement). Analyses showed that distinct and non-overlapping populations – called ensembles – were active during Training and Extinction, to support response execution and inhibition, respectively.

A novel atypical DAT inhibitor that inhibits cocaine taking and seeking and itself has low abuse potential in experimental animals.

Featured Paper of the Month – December 2025
Published in Translational Psychiatry by Omar Soler-Cedeño and Zheng-Xiong Xi, M.D., Ph.D. of the NIDA IRP Addiction Biology Unit.

This study evaluated two new compounds in animal models: RDS-04-010, an atypical dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitor that binds to an inward-facing conformation of DAT, and RDS-03-094, a more typical DAT inhibitor that binds to an outward-facing conformation. Notably, RDS-04-010 reduced cocaine use, lowered motivation to seek cocaine, and prevented relapse-like behavior, while showing no rewarding or addictive effects on its own. These findings highlight RDS-04-010 as a promising treatment candidate.

Brain reactivity to nicotine cues mediates the link between resting-state connectivity and cue-induced craving in individuals who smoke or vape nicotine

Featured Paper of the Month – November 2025
Published in Neuropsychopharmacology by Laura Murray and Amy Janes of the NIDA IRP Cognitive and Pharmacological Neuroimaging Section.

This project tested whether brain and subjective responses to nicotine cues differed between individuals who smoke versus vape nicotine, and whether brain function at rest was related to how the brain responded to nicotine cues and how exposure to nicotine cues influences subjective craving.

Characterizing Olfactory Brain Responses in Young Infants

Featured Paper of the Month – October 2025
Published in The Journal of Neuroscience by Thorsten Kahnt of the NIDA IRP Learning and Decision-Making Section.

In this study, we presented different odors to sleeping infants while recording their nasal airflow and brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Odors evoked strong fMRI responses throughout the olfactory cortex and thalamus. Moreover, analysis of nasal airflow showed that infants inhaled more strongly to pleasant compared to unpleasant odors, suggesting they may adjust their breathing based on odor preference.

The Role of Claustrum in Incubation of Opioid Seeking after Electric Barrier-Induced Voluntary Abstinence in Male and Female Rats

Featured Paper of the Month – August 2025
Published in Journal of Neuroscience by Kenichiro Negishi, Ying Duan, Yihong Yang, Yavin Shaham and Ida Fredriksson, et al. of the NIDA IRP Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Section and Neurobiology of Relapse Section.

In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry, anatomical tracing, and reversible inactivation methods to identify a critical role of a brain region called the claustrum and its anatomical connections with ventral subiculum in incubation of oxycodone seeking.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists but not dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors reduce alcohol intake

Featured Paper of the Month – July 2025

Published in Journal of Clinical Investigation by Mehdi Farokhnia and Lorenzo Leggio of the NIDA IRP Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section.

In this study, we investigated the associations between the receipt of GLP-1RAs and change in alcohol use, using real-world electronic health record data from the largest integrated healthcare system in the U.S., the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Frontostriatal regulation of brain circuits contributes to flexible decision making

Featured Paper of the Month – June 2025
Published in Neuropsychopharmacology by Ying Duan and  Yihong Yang of the NIDA IRP Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Section.

In this study, we confirmed the role of the mPFC-NAc pathway in behavioral flexibility using a set-shifting task in rats. We then evaluated the causal effects of mPFC-NAc activation on whole-brain activity and functional connectivity measured by functional MRI.

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