Neural Mechanisms Underlying Alcohol Induced Disinhibition

Inclusion criteria

• male and female Caucasian volunteers aged 18 years/0 months to 19 years/11 months;
• written informed consent by the subject;
• habitual social drinking during the two months preceding participation, defined by at least one drinking day in any two weeks-interval;
• at least one prior experience of alcohol intoxication
• being able to abstain from tobacco use for four hours without developing nicotine withdrawal symptoms;
• effective contraception in female participants;
• consenting to abstain from any illegal substance use for 2 weeks prior to participation;
• living within 15 km (9.5 miles) from downtown Dresden;
• sufficient information concerning alcohol use in both parents and in at least four second-degree relatives

Exclusion criteria

• prior medical treatment due to alcohol use;
• current or prior history of any serious disease, including CNS, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, endocrine, alcohol or drug dependence, but not alcohol abuse;
• current history of Axis-I psychiatric illness, including premenstrual dysphoric disorder;
• current or prior history of alcohol-induced flushing reactions;
• positive urine screen for cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, or benzodiazepines;
• light or non-drinkers: averaging less than 2 standard drinks per week in the preceding two months;
• intention to become pregnant
• pregnancy or positive urine pregnancy screening or breast-feeding;
• any alcohol intake on the test day or the day before;
• use of medications known to interact with alcohol within 2 weeks of the study;
• positive hepatitis or HIV at screening, provided the subject consented to these tests
• any conditions posing safety issues with the fMRI scan, such as ferromagnetic implants, cardiac pacemakers or insulin pumps