Thus, much research has examined the role of the α-subunit of the GABA receptor, and this protein clearly plays a central role in alcohol-mediated anxiolysis and other effects of alcohol use. Nevertheless, it remains important to more clearly connect genetic variations found to be associated with alcoholism risk in humans with basic biologic function. Functional studies using animal models, postmortem brain tissue, and novel methodologies that examine gene expression in the context of neuronal connectivity in alcoholics and nonalcoholics are among a few methods that may serve to further elucidate the function of candidate variants identified in human gene-association studies.
