# Effects of Stereotype Threat on Impulsivity and Its Relation to Alcohol Use in African Americans: An fMRI Study

> **NIH NIH R01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $608,474

## Abstract

Summary
African Americans experience higher rates of alcohol-related sequalae (e.g., cirrhosis, mortality) relative to
their European American counterparts. It is thus critical from a public health perspective that we gain a deep
understanding of the unique factors contributing to alcohol use behaviors in African American individuals. To
this end, many studies have focused on understanding how social and environmental factors (social
determinants) contribute to increased alcohol use among African Americans. Yet, the mechanisms through
which these social determinants affect alcohol use behaviors are poorly understood, resulting in an absence of
vital information needed to enhance alcohol use disorders (AUD) prevention and intervention strategies. We
have recently shown that exposure to a common stressor, stereotype threat, is associated with increases in
impulsivity – a key mediating mechanism of AUD risk. Stereotype threat (ST) is a behavioral phenomenon that
arises when cues in the environment evoke negative stereotypes associated with an individual’s group,
triggering cognitive processes that adversely impact behavior. An enduring stereotype of African American
communities is that they experience high levels of alcohol/substance use. We have shown that exposure to
these negative race-related stereotypes elevates impulsivity. Further, our data reveal that this increase in
impulsivity correlates with alcohol use among African Americans. These findings reveal ST-induced impulsivity
as a novel correlate of AUD-risk behaviors. In line with NIAAA’s goal to develop a more thorough
understanding of the mechanisms contributing to AUD risk, we propose to investigate the neural mechanisms
associated with ST-induced impulsivity. We will further assess whether these neural mechanisms are
associated with alcohol use behaviors among African American adults. Participants will include 280 African
American adults who regularly consume alcohol. While undergoing functional MRI, all will complete a measure
of impulsivity administered both before and after an ST exposure manipulation. This manipulation will utilize a
2x2x2 between-subjects design to systematically manipulate exposure to a verbal ST prime, race-related
stimuli, and AUD-related stimuli in order to assess the effects of these exposures, independently and
combined, on neural systems involved in impulsive decision-making. Alcohol use behaviors will be assessed
outside of the scanner. We predict that ST exposure will lead to shifts within affect-related and cognitive
control-related brain regions. To increase clinical impact, we will assess the relation of ST-induced shifts in
impulsivity and brain response to alcohol use behaviors. Results from the proposed study will enrich our
understanding of how sociocultural, behavioral, and neural factors combine to influence AUD risk behaviors. In
addition, our results will provide greater insights into the neural systems implicated in AUD-risk – systems that
coul...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10771962
- **Project number:** 5R01AA028023-04
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** URAINA S. CLARK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $608,474
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10771962

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10771962, Effects of Stereotype Threat on Impulsivity and Its Relation to Alcohol Use in African Americans: An fMRI Study (5R01AA028023-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10771962. Licensed CC0.

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