Why alcohol cues become more tempting for some people
A translational human laboratory Pavlovian conditioning model of individual differences in risk for alcohol cue incentive salience sensitization and longitudinal assessment of problematic alcohol use
This project uses lab tasks and brain scans in adults who drink to understand why some people develop stronger, hard-to-ignore reactions to alcohol cues that can lead to problematic drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174598 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would come to the lab for controlled sessions where small amounts of alcohol may be given and you complete tasks that measure how much alcohol-related cues grab your attention and motivate behavior. Researchers will record your responses and measure brain activity with functional neuroimaging while you do these tasks. The team will follow participants over time to see whether early cue-reactivity predicts later increases in problematic drinking.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and over who drink alcohol and are willing to undergo controlled alcohol exposure, lab tasks, and brain scans are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those who do not drink, pregnant people, or anyone unable to undergo MRI or consume alcohol would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify who is at higher risk for developing alcohol problems and help guide earlier, more personalized prevention or treatment approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and human lab studies support the idea that cue-reactivity relates to risk, but translating this specific Pavlovian conditioning model to humans and linking it to later drinking problems is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of Missouri-Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cofresi, Roberto U — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Cofresi, Roberto U
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.