CRH and Anxiety: Further, we find that BNST neurons that synthesize and release corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), a stress neuropeptide that has been highly linked to alcohol and anxiety-related behaviors50,63–66 across mammalian species, are critical to the behavioral role of E2 via rapid E2-mediated increased excitatory synaptic transmission and enhancement of activity of BNSTCRF neurons during motivated alcohol drinking behavior.