How teen exploration and curiosity relate to later alcohol problems
Official title: Neurodevelopment of exploration and alcohol problems in adolescence
Funded at University of New Mexico · NIH-11332729 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether how teens aged 13–21 explore new choices and take risks connects with underage drinking and later alcohol problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | May 5, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $571,566 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030283-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332729 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adolescents and young adults ages 13–21, including those who have tried alcohol or are at risk for underage drinking.
✕Less likely to help
People outside the 13–21 age range or without any history or risk of adolescent alcohol use are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would be part of a group of about 135 young people followed over time to see how decision-making develops from adolescence into young adulthood. Researchers will use brain scans (fMRI), computer tasks that measure novelty-driven choices, and smartphone daily diaries to track real-world alcohol use and decision moments. Data will be collected at three visits and combined with computational models to link behavior, brain activity, and drinking patterns. The goal is to see if early alcohol use changes the normal development of strategic exploration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify teens at higher risk for chronic alcohol problems and point to better early prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous cross-sectional studies link novelty-seeking to alcohol use, but this longitudinal, model-based fMRI approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hogeveen, Jeremy P — University of New Mexico
- Study coordinator: Hogeveen, Jeremy P
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.