# Using Neuroeconomics to Understand Alcohol Overvaluation in Alcohol Use Disorder

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2021 · $242,933

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 The novel field of neuroeconomics integrates concepts and methods from psychology, economics, and
cognitive neuroscience to understand the neurobiological foundations of decision making, and has been
increasingly applied to understanding alcohol use disorder (AUD). A novel focus in neuroeconomics is alcohol
demand, or the value of alcohol as measured by cost-benefit preferences. Behaviorally, alcohol demand has
been found to be elevated among individuals with higher levels of alcohol misuse and to predict treatment
response. In addition, alcohol demand can also be dynamically increased via acute stress. These findings are
consistent with theoretical perspectives that emphasize both stable tonic and acute phasic aspects of
motivation. The overall goal of the proposed studies is to characterize the neural activity that subserves these
established behavioral findings using a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm. The first aim is
to examine how the brain represents the value of alcohol in individuals with AUD compared to a control group.
To do so, the first study will use a between-subjects case-control design to identify differences in neural activity
associated with elevations in alcohol demand in individuals with AUD (i.e., cases) versus individuals who drink
regularly but do not have an AUD and are matched on key variables (i.e., controls). The second aim is to
investigate the changes in neural activity associated with stress-elicited increases in the value of alcohol. To do
so, a second study will use a within-subjects design, comparing demand-associated neural activity following a
neutral induction to neural activity following a stress induction in individuals with AUD. The third aim is to
investigate the relationship between patterns of neural activity during alcohol demand decision making and
intervention response. To do so, all participants with AUD in Study #1 and Study #2 will receive Motivational
Enhancement Therapy, a previously validated four-session manualized motivational interviewing intervention,
and neural activity during the alcohol demand paradigm will be used to predict subsequent drinking at 1-month
and 6-month follow-up. Collectively, these aims will systematically apply a novel neuroeconomic approach to
diverse aspects of AUD across the translational spectrum, from basic differences in neural activity to predictors
of intervention response.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10219925
- **Project number:** 5R01AA025911-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES MACKILLOP
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $242,933
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-05 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10219925

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10219925, Using Neuroeconomics to Understand Alcohol Overvaluation in Alcohol Use Disorder (5R01AA025911-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10219925. Licensed CC0.

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