CREB1 and Anxiety: Several studies demonstrated that CREB phosphorylation increases during acute alcohol exposure, normalizes in response to chronic alcohol treatment, and decreases in amygdaloid structures during alcohol withdrawal, suggesting that CREB serves as a molecular switch in the CeA to regulate anxiety and alcohol drinking behaviors (Pandey et al., 2003, 2005, 2008b; Moonat et al., 2011).