Behavioral and Functional Task Development, Implementation, and Testing

Objective:

The purpose of this protocol is three-fold: 1) to develop tasks examining various cognitive, motivational, and decision-making behaviors outside the scanner; 2) to modify, refine, and verify the feasibility and applicability of tasks for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure intended concomitant brain activation; and 3) to examine equivalent or surrogate signals using other devices such as electroencephalograph (EEG) and functional near infrared spectrometer (fNIRS) when the MR contraindication(s) are present in the participant.

Study population:

Healthy volunteers without an alcohol use disorder, and inpatient participants with alcohol dependence as determined by the DSM-IV-TR or at least Moderate Alcohol Use Disorder as determined by DSM-5.

Design:

The participants will pilot one or both aspects of this study depending on whether the task is de novo or a modification to previously verified or published task.

Outcome measures:

The outcome is to develop and examine tasks that reliably measure specific cognitive, motivational and decision-making behaviors and invoke associated brain systems and functions in our targeted subject populations.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• between 18-65 years of age. The PI or designated AI will determine if any of the exclusion criteria listed below applies*.

Exclusion criteria

• Are not cleared on a neuromotor examination
• Are currently receiving psychotropic medication
• Inpatients only: Currently experiencing symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol (As determined by the most recent measurement within the

past 30 days CIWA score > 8).

-MRI Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body including implanted pacemakers, medication pumps, aneurysm clips, metallic prostheses (including metal pins and rods, heart valves or cochlear implants), shrapnel fragments, permanent eye liner or small metallic fragments in the eye that welders and other metal workers may have;
• Are pregnant, as determined by a negative pregnancy test
• Left handed
• Claustrophobia.

• To minimize discomfort and undue burden on the participants, unless available from phone screening, pre-screening, or other NIAAA studies such as 14-AA-0080, 14-AA-0181, we collect the above information as part of this study.