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Using Neuroeconomics to Understand Alcohol Overvaluation in Alcohol Use Disorder

Award Number: R01AA025911
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/05/2018
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2025

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Using Neuroeconomics to Understand Alcohol Overvaluation in Alcohol Use Disorder - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The novel field of neuroeconomics integrates concepts and methods from psychology, economics, and cognitive neuroscience to understand the neurobiological foundations of decision making, and has been increasingly applied to understanding alcohol use disorder (AUD). A novel focus in neuroeconomics is alcohol demand, or the value of alcohol as measured by cost-benefit preferences. Behaviorally, alcohol demand has been found to be elevated among individuals with higher levels of alcohol misuse and to predict treatment response. In addition, alcohol demand can also be dynamically increased via acute stress. These findings are consistent with theoretical perspectives that emphasize both stable tonic and acute phasic aspects of motivation. The overall goal of the proposed studies is to characterize the neural activity that subserves these established behavioral findings using a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm. The first aim is to examine how the brain represents the value of alcohol in individuals with AUD compared to a control group. To do so, the first study will use a between-subjects case-control design to identify differences in neural activity associated with elevations in alcohol demand in individuals with AUD (i.e., cases) versus individuals who drink regularly but do not have an AUD and are matched on key variables (i.e., controls). The second aim is to investigate the changes in neural activity associated with stress-elicited increases in the value of alcohol. To do so, a second study will use a within-subjects design, comparing demand-associated neural activity following a neutral induction to neural activity following a stress induction in individuals with AUD. The third aim is to investigate the relationship between patterns of neural activity during alcohol demand decision making and intervention response. To do so, all participants with AUD in Study #1 and Study #2 will receive Motivational Enhancement Therapy, a previously validated four-session manualized motivational interviewing intervention, and neural activity during the alcohol demand paradigm will be used to predict subsequent drinking at 1-month and 6-month follow-up. Collectively, these aims will systematically apply a novel neuroeconomic approach to diverse aspects of AUD across the translational spectrum, from basic differences in neural activity to predictors of intervention response.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$24 )
2026	2022	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 E CAMPUS RD RM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	5	12/5/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$24
														Subtotal = -$24

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 E CAMPUS RD RM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	5	7/18/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $239,038 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	5	7/25/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$239,038
														Subtotal = $239,038

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $242,933 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	4	7/26/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$242,933
														Subtotal = $242,933

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $258,360 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	3	7/20/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$258,360
														Subtotal = $258,360

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $257,413 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	2	7/24/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$257,413
														Subtotal = $257,413

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $276,907 )
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	001	1	8/7/2018	NEW	-$276,907
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	002	1	8/10/2018	NEW	$276,907
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.	310 EAST CAMPUS RD TUCKER HALL ROOM 409	ATHENS	GA	30602	CLARKE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	1	8/3/2018	NEW	$276,907
														Subtotal = $276,907

Grand Total All Awards = $1,274,627

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Using Neuroeconomics to Understand Alcohol Overvaluation in Alcohol Use Disorder

Award Number: R01AA025911

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/05/2018

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2025

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