Multimodal Assessment of Neural, Neuroendocrine, and Immune Cue Responses in Binge Drinkers in the Laboratory and Real World

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to better understand how blood flow in the brain, levels of the hormone, cortisol, and levels of an immune factor, interleukin-6, change in response to pictures of alcohol versus water pictures of water in healthy people who regularly consume alcohol. Researchers will learn about how the brain processes our environment and how it relates to people's drinking behaviors. This information is important because it may allow us to develop new treatments for Alcohol Use Disorders. Participants will be asked to fill out psychological questionnaires at the first appointment. Then, they will do MRI scans with blood draws at visits 2-6. After each MRI scan, participants will undergo the Alcohol Taste Test, which involves drinking beer. There will be a total of 3 visits at baseline, 2 visits one year later, and 2 visits one year after that. Each visit will last 2 hours. Each year, participants will do 21 days of surveys on a smart phone (4 surveys a day; each survey takes less than 2 minutes). The total time commitment for the entire study will be 23 hours.

Eligibility

Age range

21–25 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Alcohol Cue Reactivity and Laboratory Alcohol Administration Paradigm

  Mechanistic evaluation of neural, neuroendocrine, and immune biomarkers underlying alcohol cue reactivity and drinking behavior.

Location