Brain Responses to Contextual Influences on Drinking Decisions

Purpose

This study is using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine brain activity associated with making decisions about drinking alcohol in everyday situations, some of which may involve important activities happening the next day. The secondary aims are to determine whether severity of alcohol-related problems is related to brain activity and alcohol choices and to examine how different areas of the brain interact in connected networks.

Condition

  • Alcohol Drinking

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 21 Years and 55 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  1. 21-55 years of age; 2. current heavy alcohol drinking in the past three months, as indicated by reporting consumption of 14 or more drinks per week for men or 7 or more drinks per week for women and at least one heavy drinking episode weekly (5+/4+ drinks in a single occasion for males/females); 3. belong to a category with significant responsibilities, such as being currently employed, a current student, or a caregiver with significant responsibilities; 4. speak English; 5. normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing; 6. able to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

  1. currently engaged in treatment or seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems; 2. major psychiatric illness (psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder); 3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Version-5 substance use disorder (except nicotine); 4. attending any in-person session with a positive breath alcohol concentration (BrAC > 0.00%); 5. any contraindications for MRI scanning (e.g., metal in body surgically or accidentally including pacemaker, cochlear implants, aneurysm clips, shrapnel, etc.); 6. history of seizures or anti-seizure medication; 7. history of concussion or other significant brain injury; 8. serious medical illness unsuitable for the MRI scanner based on best clinical judgment

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Intervention Model Description
The study uses a within-subjects design with all participants completing the no-responsibility and responsibility conditions.
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Responsibility vs No Responsibility
Within-subjects experimental manipulation of responsibility vs. no-responsibility condition
  • Behavioral: Responsibility condition
    During the fMRI scan, participants will complete alcohol purchase task paradigm for hypothetical alcohol rewards under two conditions. In the next-day responsibility condition, we will present a vignette describing a drinking scenario in which participants have a significant activity the next day (e.g., a work, family, or academic obligation the next morning) and participants are asked to imagine they are deciding how much they want to drink in this situation. The control condition will use a vignette describing a typical drinking scenario with no explicit responsibilities the next day

Recruiting Locations

Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
Contact:
Michael Amlung, PhD
785-864-0334
mamlung@ku.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Kansas Medical Center

Study Contact

Michael Amlung, PhD
785.864.0334
mamlung@ku.edu

Detailed Description

The overall objective of this study is to examine brain activity associated with making decisions about drinking alcohol in everyday situations, some of which may involve important activities happening the next day. The secondary aims are to determine whether severity of alcohol-related problems is related to brain activity and alcohol choices and to examine how different areas of the brain interact in connected networks. The study involves two testing sessions -- a baseline interview conducted virtually or in-person, and a MRI scanning session at University of Kansas Medical Center. Participants (N=80, 50% female, age 21-55) are community adults who report drinking alcohol in excess of NIAAA-recommended weekly drinking limits (i.e., heavy drinkers who consume 14/7+ drinks per week for men/women). Participants will complete hypothetical alcohol purchase tasks during the MRI scan with two conditions being examined. A control condition involves a typical drinking situation with no explicit responsibilities. An experimental condition involves a hypothetical situation with important personally-relevant responsibilities the next day (e.g., a presentation at work, an exam, or caregiving responsibilities).