According to a new study, stress can directly influence addiction-related behaviours through specific brain circuits. The research study, carried out by scientists from the University of Texas and published in the peer-reviewed journal eLife, used a transgenic mice model to identify and study the brain cells involved in stress and addiction pathways.

The researchers identified a pathway linking the brain’s stress centers to the region involved in habits and decision-making. These stress centers include two small areas deep in the brain, the central amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, which become active during stress, anxiety, or perceived threats.

“What we’ve identified is a direct line of communication between the brain’s stress centres and the region that governs habits and actions, a connection that wasn’t previously understood well,” said Dr.  Jun Wang, the study’s senior author, in a press release. “Seeing stress signals travel straight into this decision‑making system gives us a clearer picture of why stressful experiences can so strongly influence behaviour, sometimes in ways that become unhealthy.”

Moreover, the research findings also revealed that stress-related signals in the brain act on special cells that help to make decisions. When these cells are active, they release a chemical that supports learning and helps the brain to adapt to stressful situations. However, alcohol disrupts this process, making it harder for the brain to cope with stress and increasing the risk of falling into automatic habits such as addiction. According to the researchers, this discovery shows how stress can drive relapse, rigid behaviours, and increased vulnerability during withdrawal by disrupting the brain’s ability to adapt and make flexible decisions.

The authors have also noted that identifying the specific brain pathway involved helps to guide new treatment strategies to prevent addiction and relapse by restoring the brain’s stress response system. “This pathway may be a promising target for helping people build resilience against addiction or relapse,” said Wang.  “This discovery gives us a map of how stress reaches the brain’s decision‑making machinery. And importantly, it shows us how alcohol interferes with that map. That knowledge is powerful.”