Stereotype stress, impulse control, and alcohol use in African American adults
Effects of Stereotype Threat on Impulsivity and Its Relation to Alcohol Use in African Americans: An fMRI Study
This project looks at whether feeling targeted by negative stereotypes makes impulse control worse and relates to higher alcohol use in African American adults using brain scans and behavioral tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11044063 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited if you are an African American adult (21+). You would complete questionnaires about alcohol use, take behavioral tests that measure impulsivity under conditions that do or do not trigger stereotype stress, and have an fMRI brain scan during some tasks. Researchers will compare your behavior and brain activity across conditions to see how stereotype-related stress may change impulse control and link to drinking patterns. The goal is to better understand mechanisms that could help prevent or reduce alcohol-related harms in this community.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are African American adults aged 21 or older who are willing and able to complete behavioral tasks, questionnaires, and MRI scans.
Not a fit: People under 21, non-African Americans, or those who cannot safely undergo MRI (for example due to metal implants, pregnancy, or severe claustrophobia) or who have unmanaged severe medical or psychiatric conditions may not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new prevention or treatment approaches that reduce alcohol-related harms by addressing stereotype-related stress.
How similar studies have performed: Behavioral studies, including prior work by this team, have shown stereotype threat can raise impulsivity and relate to alcohol use, but combining fMRI to map the brain mechanisms is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, Uraina S. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Clark, Uraina S.
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 below.