Tracking how stress affects brain dynamics and drinking behavior
Official title: Tracking brain dynamics of the acute stress response and neurocognitive mechanisms of chronic alcohol consumption
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11401939 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Yale will use brain imaging and computer models to see how stress-related brain activity relates to risky drinking in adults.
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, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $711,808 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031072-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401939 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years or older with varying levels of alcohol use who can undergo MRI scanning.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to undergo MRI or without an interest in alcohol-related research may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project will combine existing brain scan data with new MRI sessions in adults who drink, to identify dynamic brain patterns that occur during stress. Researchers will use machine learning to create whole-brain biomarkers of stress and test if these patterns predict how much a person drinks or how they think about alcohol. By understanding moment-to-moment brain responses, the study aims to reveal targets for interventions to reduce risky drinking. Participants will contribute MRI data and behavioral assessments across multiple visits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to personalized strategies to prevent relapse and inform new treatments for AUD based on how stress changes brain function.
How similar studies have gone: Recent studies show dynamic brain patterns can predict stress-related behaviors, supporting the potential for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldfarb, Elizabeth — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Goldfarb, Elizabeth
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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.