How alcohol changes the social brain during paired interactions
Official title: Alcohol and the Social Brain: An Alcohol-Administration Hyperscanning Study Employing a Within-Subject Design
Run by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NCT07125534 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether drinking alcohol changes brain activity and social bonding during conversations between pairs of regular social drinkers aged 21–30.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 21 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Champaign, Illinois and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 9, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 2027 |
| Study ends | May 2028 |
| Registry record updated | August 29, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07125534 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are healthy regular social drinkers aged 21–30 who have no history of severe alcohol use disorder, are not pregnant, and are comfortable consuming alcohol and undergoing EEG in two lab visits.
✕Probably not a fit
People with a history of severe AUD, medical conditions or medications that contraindicate alcohol, pregnancy, or those uncomfortable with EEG are unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Researchers will use a within-subject design in which each participant attends two lab sessions about one week apart; in one session they receive an alcoholic beverage and in the other a nonalcoholic control, with the order randomized. Participants are tested in dyads while EEG hyperscanning records intra-brain and inter-brain neural dynamics during social interaction tasks. Validated self-report questionnaires and behavioral measures will capture mood, social bonding, and emotional regulation alongside the neural data. A sample of 200 regular social drinkers aged 21–30 without severe AUD will allow direct comparisons of intoxicated versus sober states within the same individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could clarify how alcohol affects social bonding and brain synchrony and help guide prevention or intervention strategies for harmful drinking.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies show alcohol can enhance social bonding, but applying EEG hyperscanning to dyadic alcohol administration is a novel approach with limited prior evidence.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Between the ages of 21 and 30 * Regularly consumes alcohol Exclusion Criteria: * History of adverse reaction to the amount of beverage employed in the study * Have a history of major problems associated with alcohol * Take medications that could adversely interact with alcohol * Have medical conditions that contraindicate alcohol administration * Individuals with a history of skull fractures or who indicate discomfort with EEG procedures used * Female participant is pregnant or trying to become pregnant
Where it's running
-
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Champaign, Illinois, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Catharine E Fairbairn, Ph.D.
- Email: cfairbai@illlinois.edu
- Phone: 217 300 5850
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.