Understanding how social settings influence alcohol rewards in the brain
Official title: Examining the Neural Correlates of Alcohol Reward in Social Context: A Hyperscanning EEG Study
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-11077671 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how drinking alcohol with friends affects the brain's reward system, helping us understand why social drinking can sometimes lead to binge drinking and alcohol problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $49,538 |
| NIH project number | 5F31AA031614-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077671 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who consume alcohol in social settings and may be at risk for developing alcohol use disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume alcohol or who drink solely in solitary contexts may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how drinking alcohol in social contexts affects the brain's reward system. By using a technique called hyperscanning EEG, researchers will simultaneously record brain activity from multiple participants while they consume alcohol in social settings. This approach aims to uncover the neurocognitive mechanisms that make alcohol rewarding when consumed socially, which is often linked to binge drinking and the development of Alcohol Use Disorder. The study seeks to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and real-world drinking behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for alcohol use disorders related to social drinking.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on alcohol consumption and its effects, this specific approach using hyperscanning EEG in social contexts is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Jiaxu — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Han, Jiaxu
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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.