# Alcohol-seeking behaviors and dopaminergic function

> **NIH NIH R01** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2020 · $464,058

## Abstract

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
 One critical diagnostic criterion of an alcohol use disorder is the disproportionate time spent seeking and
obtaining alcohol. A considerable body of preclinical data in animals now suggests that ventral striatal
dopamine release is associated, not only with the response to reward cues, but also with reward seeking
behaviors. This leaves a critical need to determine if and how human ventral striatal dopamine is related to
alcohol-seeking behaviors. The objective of this application is to determine if human ventral striatal dopamine
release is related to alcohol seeking behaviors. Our rationale for examining this phenomenon is that a key
feature of alcohol use disorders involves disproportionate behavioral effort directed toward gaining access to
alcohol. Our central hypothesis is that the cognitive and behavioral effort expended to gain access to alcohol
is linked to human ventral striatal dopamine release. Using a task that requires goal-directed behaviors to gain
access to ad lib alcohol, our specific aims are to conduct two experiments using dopaminergic positron
emission tomography that will:
 Aim 1: Determine if instrumental efforts exerted to gain access to alcohol (alcohol seeking
behaviors) are associated with human ventral striatal dopaminergic release. Hypothesis 1a: Alcohol
seeking behaviors increase ventral striatal dopamine release. Hypothesis 1b: Alcohol craving during alcohol-
seeking behaviors is positively correlated with ventral striatal dopamine release.
 Aim 2: Determine if alcohol cue exposure potentiates ventral striatal dopaminergic release during
alcohol seeking behaviors. Hypothesis 2a: Exposure to the sensory cues of a preferred alcoholic drink will
potentiate ventral striatal dopamine release during effortful alcohol seeking behaviors. Hypothesis 2b: Cue-
potentiated alcohol craving during alcohol-seeking behaviors is positively correlated with ventral striatal
dopamine release.
 Exploratory aim: Determine if ventral striatal dopamine release during alcohol seeking is associated
with variables related to alcohol use and abuse. Here we explore the extent to which the magnitude of
ventral striatal dopamine release during seeking behaviors is related to subjective reinforcement from alcohol,
alcohol use patterns (self-reported, and observed during intravenous self-administration), alcohol-related
problems, and trait impulsivity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9990632
- **Project number:** 5R01AA024588-05
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID A. KAREKEN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $464,058
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-05 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9990632

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9990632, Alcohol-seeking behaviors and dopaminergic function (5R01AA024588-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9990632. Licensed CC0.

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