# Developmental and peer effects on the neurobiology of cognitive control and reward processes

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $468,228

## Abstract

Abstract
 Alcohol and drug use problems that onset in adolescence are associated with a more severe and
persistent course and impairments in multiple domains of psychosocial functioning. A key predictor of loss of
control of substance use is the difference in activation between the reward and cognitive control networks.
Specifically, the greater the activation of the reward network to drug cues relative to that of the control network,
the less control over drug use behavior. During adolescence, maturation of the reward network outpaces that
of the control network, resulting in a bias toward risk-taking when in the presence of reward cues. In
adolescents but not adults, the presence of peers has been shown to increase risk-taking due to greater
activation of the reward network. Adolescents spend more time with peers than adults and deviant peer
affiliation is the strongest correlate of alcohol and drug use problems, and drinking alcohol is an especially
social activity shared with peers. The combination of these neurodevelopmental and peer influences on the
reward network then may be key neurobiological and contextual mechanisms that account for the large
increases in alcohol and drug use problems during adolescence.
 We will examine the development of the neurobiological processes of the reward and cognitive control
networks, peer effects on these networks, and how these neurobiological and contextual processes contribute
to risk-taking and alcohol and drug use problems in adolescence using a longitudinal fMRI study. We will use
an accelerated longitudinal cohort design that covers pre- (10-12 years-old), middle (13-15 years-old), and
later (16-18 years-old) adolescence (total N=210), with 1-year and 2-year follow-up assessments. This design
will allow us to cover 10 years (10 to 20 years-old) of neurobiological development in half the time. Our
protocol will include an assessment of peer presence on reward activation during risking-taking (stoplight task)
and reward anticipation and receipt (monetary incentive delay); neurological processes associated with explicit
social feedback in the form of acceptance and rejection (chatroom social interaction task); and a basic
cognitive control task (stop signal) to assess inhibitory processes. We predict that peer presence will increase
reward activation during risk taking and reward receipt, and that these peer effects on reward activation will
increase from pre- to middle adolescence. Further, greater reward reactivity and weaker cognitive control will
be associated with greater sensitivity to peer influences. Finally, greater reward reactivity, weaker cognitive
control, and greater sensitivity to both peer presence and explicit social feedback will be associated with
greater alcohol and drug use problems and comorbid externalizing and internalizing problems.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9965696
- **Project number:** 5R01AA024433-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** BRIAN M HICKS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $468,228
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9965696

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9965696, Developmental and peer effects on the neurobiology of cognitive control and reward processes (5R01AA024433-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9965696. Licensed CC0.

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