Exploring how context influences the desire for alcohol in the brain
Official title: Understanding the neural markers of incentive salience for alcohol: the role of context in brain-behavior relationships
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11031607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young adults who drink heavily react to alcohol-related triggers in different situations, using brain scans to see how their brains respond, so we can better understand their drinking habits in real life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $165,279 |
| NIH project number | 1K01AA032018-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young adult heavy drinkers who are experiencing challenges related to alcohol consumption.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume alcohol or have mild alcohol use issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the brain's response to alcohol-related cues, known as incentive salience, is affected by the context in which these cues are encountered. By using advanced neuroimaging techniques like fMRI and EEG, the study aims to understand the relationship between brain activity and alcohol consumption behaviors in real-world settings. The research will involve young adult heavy drinkers, who will participate in both laboratory and ambulatory assessments to capture their responses to alcohol cues in various environments. This approach seeks to bridge the gap between controlled laboratory findings and everyday alcohol use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions for individuals struggling with alcohol use disorder by providing insights into how environmental factors influence drinking behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the neural mechanisms of addiction, but this specific focus on context and incentive salience is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kang, Dahyeon — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Kang, Dahyeon
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.