# Project 1: How mindfulness modulates craving and brain networks in moderate-to-heavy drinkers

> **NIH NIH P50** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $375,313

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The scientific premise of the Wake Forest Translational Alcohol Research Center (WF-TARC) is that the
neurobiological substrates that contribute to alcohol use disorder (AUD) vulnerability and resilience are not fully
understood. Despite the fact that alcohol misuse contributes to 88,000 deaths in America each year, the
effectiveness of currently available interventions is less than desirable and is demonstrated by relapse
occurring in up to 70% of treated patients. It is clear that we must better understand the neurobiology of AUD
vulnerability so that patients can be identified early in the disease process and appropriate novel treatments
can be developed. There is a growingly accepted three-stage model of addiction that is based on a recurring
cycle of binge/intoxication, followed by withdrawal/negative affect, and ultimately preoccupation/anticipation of
further use (craving). This project will focus on craving as a potential marker for AUD vulnerability as it is the
primary predictor of AUD relapse. The first aim is designed to characterize the behavioral phenotypes and
brain network properties associated with high craving in moderate-high alcohol drinkers (females 1-3
drinks/day, males 2-4 drinks/day). Participants must drink most days of the week but cannot have any history
of, or currently meet criteria for, AUD. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods utilizing iPhone
technology will be used to assess craving during real time and in the participant's natural environment during
normal drinking days, as well as during abstinence. Functional neuroimaging and brain network analyses will
be used to examine associations between craving and brain connectivity. It is hypothesized that 1) individuals
with high Alcohol Craving Experience (ACE) scores will have higher measures of EMA craving, and 2) the high
ACE population will have high levels of connectivity between medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and posterior
default-mode network (DMN) and low levels of efficiency between the mPFC and the ventral striatum and
amygdala. Aims 2 and 3 will evaluate the effects of randomization to mindfulness meditation intervention
versus a sham mindfulness intervention on the behavioral and brain characteristics associated with high
craving in moderate-high alcohol drinkers. This will be the first placebo-controlled mindfulness meditation study
to examine the behavioral and neural mechanisms supporting alcohol craving. It is hypothesized that
mindfulness meditation will not only significantly reduce EMA measures of craving, but will decrease
connectivity between the mPFC and posterior DMN and increase connectivity from the mPFC to the ventral
striatum and amygdala. This project has the potential to guide the development of future clinical trials to better
target clinical outcomes by understanding corresponding mechanisms supporting meditation-related reductions
in alcohol craving. The identification of behavioral markers underlying craving a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10079836
- **Project number:** 5P50AA026117-04
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Paul Laurienti
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $375,313
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10079836

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10079836, Project 1: How mindfulness modulates craving and brain networks in moderate-to-heavy drinkers (5P50AA026117-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10079836. Licensed CC0.

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