# The effects of stress on decision-making in alcohol use disorder: A translational approach

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2023 · $185,250

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The objective of this translational project is to test the effects of acute stress induction on cognitive flexibility
and habit learning among individuals with AUD compared to matched controls. Towards elucidating the
complex interplay between alcohol and stress, it is crucial to elucidate brain circuitry and mechanisms that
underlie how alcohol and stress interact across a range of domains. To date, much of our understanding of
such mechanisms is confined to the preclinical level of analysis. To advance the translational impact of the
science of stress and AUD, this application proposes an investigation in a clinical sample with AUD, combining
careful experimental manipulations of stress induction, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and a
well-defined assessment of decision making. We propose to test the effects of acute stress induction on
cognitive flexibility (i.e., Wisconsin Card Sort Task; WCST) and habit learning (i.e., Sequential Decision-Making
Task; SDMT) in a sample of 64 individuals, 32 non-treatment seeking individuals with AUD and 32 matched
controls (no AUD). All participants will complete a chronic stress-informed battery. Baseline measures of
cognitive flexibility and habit learning (WCST and SDMT) will be collected. Eligible participants will complete a
neuroimaging-based stress-induction task, immediately preceded and followed by assessments of cognitive
flexibility and habit learning (WCST and SDMT). The overarching goal is to test whether response to an acute
stress induction is associated with decreases on cognitive flexibility and increases in habit learning in
individuals with AUD compared to matched controls. If the study hypotheses are supported and acute stress
decreases cognitive flexibility and enhances habit learning in individuals with AUD, compared to matched
controls, we will undertake large scale (R01-level) studies in which both stress/neural conditions and decision-
making measures are completed using neuroimaging paradigms so that neurocircuitry of both stress response
and decision-making can be interrogated.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10667891
- **Project number:** 1R21AA030643-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** LARA A. RAY
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $185,250
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-03-15 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10667891

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10667891, The effects of stress on decision-making in alcohol use disorder: A translational approach (1R21AA030643-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10667891. Licensed CC0.

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