Mutual influence of alcohol craving and decision-making
Official title: Neurocomputational and ecological assessments of the mutual influence between alcohol craving and decision-making
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11448771 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program at Yale will study how craving for alcohol and everyday decisions affect each other, with the goal of better understanding and helping people who struggle with heavy drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $671,854 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA032545-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448771 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults with alcohol use disorders or heavy drinking patterns who can participate in lab tasks and real-world monitoring.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without heavy drinking concerns or those unable to complete longitudinal monitoring may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how craving and decision-making interact in people who binge or heavy drink. It uses neurocomputational methods to link brain activity in reward networks to real-world drinking behavior and craving signals. The study combines laboratory tasks with models that describe how cravings unfold over time and influence choices about drinking. By examining both lab-based measures and real-life dynamics, it aims to create a clearer picture of how cravings drive risky decisions. The findings could inform future interventions to reduce harmful drinking patterns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective strategies to curb craving-driven drinking and support healthier decision-making.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown promising links between brain reward circuits and drinking behavior, though integrating real-world dynamics remains novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gu, Xiaosi — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Gu, Xiaosi
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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.