Predator odor stress produces sex- and subpopulation-specific increases in alcohol drinking, anxiety-like behavior, and lateral hypothalamic Crh expression.

Summary: Have you ever wondered why some people turn to alcohol after a scary event, while others do not? Scientists studied this using rats. They exposed male and female rats to the scary smell of a predator. Some rats, called "Avoiders," stayed far away from the smell later on. The male Avoiders drank a lot more alcohol after the scare. They also had higher levels of a stress gene in their brains. But female rats and the "Non-Avoider" males reacted differently. This shows that trauma affects males and females in unique ways, and our brains handle stress differently based on who we are!