About the Project

This project seeks to understand the neural substrates involved in implicit associative processes through the imaging of alcohol-relevant implicit associations that have been shown to consistently correlate with and predict levels of alcohol use. To observe differences in neural activity of alcohol-relevant associative effects, the proposed project will involve a between subjects comparison of hazardous alcohol users and light alcohol users on validated tests of implicit memory and cognition (a cue-behavior-outcome association task and alcohol-related-Implicit Association Test). By eliciting activation of associative alcohol-relevant memories through performance on these indirect tests of association, it is possible to increase our understanding of individual differences in associative structures that influence alcohol and other substance use behavior.

Investigators

Susan Ames
Susan L. Ames, PhD
Principal Investigator
Email address: susan.ames@cgu.edu

Alan Stacy
Alan Stacy, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator
Email address: alan.stacy@cgu.edu

Ongoing Activities

This research project is currently in the process of recruiting and assessing subjects.

Findings

Data collection and analysis is currently ongoing.

Acknowlegements

Funding for Imaging Implicit Alcohol Associations on Indirect Tests of Associations was provided by Award Number R21AA017996 from the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism. The content displayed is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism or the National Institutes of Health.