Neurobiological Factors Underlying Sex Differences in Risk for Alcohol Abuse
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Alcohol
- Conditions
- Alcohol Abuse
- Sponsor
- Mark Fillmore
- Enrollment
- 22
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Brain Activation During Response Inhibition (BARI) - Alcohol Infusion
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study will determine the neural and hormonal mechanisms underlying sex differences in sensitivity to the disinhibiting effects of alcohol in heavy drinkers.
Detailed Description
Alcohol abuse inflicts enormous physical, emotional, and financial burdens on the individual and society at large. Knowing who is at risk for alcohol abuse, and why, is crucial for the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies. Alcohol abuse has been traditionally considered a male-oriented problem and as a consequence research on risk factors specific to women has been minimal. However, the sex gap in substance abuse is closing rapidly, and findings from both animal and human studies suggest that females are actually more vulnerable to drug use than males. As such, there is an urgent need to identify sex differences in risk factors for alcohol abuse in order to develop sex-specific prevention and treatment efforts. One clear candidate risk factor is poor inhibitory control, both in terms of baseline levels of inhibition and sensitivity to the disinhibiting effects of alcohol. Recent studies suggest that sex hormones affect inhibitory control in drug-free individuals, potentially contributing to sex differences in baseline levels of inhibition. However, the degree to which fluctuations in sex hormones influence sex differences in inhibition-related brain function in sober and intoxicated individuals is not known. The proposed project will determine the neural and hormonal mechanisms underlying sex differences in sensitivity to the disinhibiting effects of alcohol in heavy drinkers. The overall objective of the research is to identify hormonal determinants of alcohol effects on brain activation during response inhibition (BARI) in young adult female and male drinkers. BARI will be assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during performance of the stop signal task. This task reliably activates right-lateralized prefrontal regions implicated in inhibitory control. This study will assess BARI during IV alcohol (60mg%) and saline infusion in women during the early follicular and mid-luteal phases and in men at matched intervals.
Investigators
Mark Fillmore
Professor
University of Kentucky
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •heavy drinking
- •Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test score above 7
- •right-handed
- •BMI between 19 and 26
- •high school education
- •fluent in English
- •women must have regular menstrual cycles
- •not using hormonal contraceptives
Exclusion Criteria
- •drug use disorder (SCID, DSM-5), other than nicotine or caffeine
- •meets withdrawal criteria
- •history of physical or psychiatric disease
- •contraindication for fMRI
- •pregnant or breastfeeding
- •smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day
Arms & Interventions
Alcohol, then saline, then alcohol, then saline
Participants first received alcohol (60mg%) intravenously and then 24-48 hours later they received saline intravenously. Two weeks later, they again received alcohol (60mg%) intravenously and then 24 - 48 hours later they received saline intravenously.
Intervention: Alcohol
Alcohol, then saline, then alcohol, then saline
Participants first received alcohol (60mg%) intravenously and then 24-48 hours later they received saline intravenously. Two weeks later, they again received alcohol (60mg%) intravenously and then 24 - 48 hours later they received saline intravenously.
Intervention: Saline
Saline, then alcohol, then saline, then alcohol
Participants first received saline intravenously and then 24-48 hours later they received alcohol (60mg%) intravenously. Two weeks later, they again received saline intravenously and then 24 - 48 hours later they received alcohol (60mg%) intravenously.
Intervention: Alcohol
Saline, then alcohol, then saline, then alcohol
Participants first received saline intravenously and then 24-48 hours later they received alcohol (60mg%) intravenously. Two weeks later, they again received saline intravenously and then 24 - 48 hours later they received alcohol (60mg%) intravenously.
Intervention: Saline
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Brain Activation During Response Inhibition (BARI) - Alcohol Infusion
Time Frame: During two alcohol sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two alcohol sessions are averaged together
Brain activation during response inhibition (BARI) was assessed using blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fMRI during performance of the stop signal task during alcohol (60mg%) infusion. Values were determined by the contrast of BOLD activation during successful inhibition trials relative to go trials.
Brain Activation During Response Inhibition (BARI) - Saline Infusion
Time Frame: During two saline (placebo) sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two saline sessions are averaged together
Brain activation during response inhibition (BARI) was assessed using blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fMRI during performance of the stop signal task during saline infusion. Values were determined by the contrast of BOLD activation during successful inhibition trials relative to go trials.
Secondary Outcomes
- Estradiol Levels - Alcohol Infusion(During two alcohol sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two alcohol sessions are averaged together)
- Estradiol Levels - Saline Infusion(During two saline (placebo) sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two saline sessions are averaged together)
- Progesterone Levels - Alcohol Infusion(During two alcohol sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two alcohol sessions are averaged together)
- Progesterone Levels - Saline Infusion(During two saline (placebo) sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two saline sessions are averaged together)
- Testosterone Levels - Alcohol Infusion(During two alcohol sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two alcohol sessions are averaged together)
- Testosterone Levels - Saline Infusion(During two saline (placebo) sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two saline sessions are averaged together)
- Biphasic Alcohol Effects Score - Stimulation - Alcohol Infusion(During two alcohol sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two alcohol sessions are averaged together)
- Biphasic Alcohol Effects Score - Sedation - Alcohol Infusion(During two alcohol sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two alcohol sessions are averaged together)
- Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) - Stimulation - Saline Infusion(During two saline (placebo) sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two saline sessions are averaged together)
- Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) - Like - Saline Infusion(During two saline (placebo) sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two saline sessions are averaged together)
- Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) - Sedation - Saline(During two saline (placebo) sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two saline sessions are averaged together)
- Drug Effects Questionnaire Score - Feel - Alcohol Infusion(During two alcohol sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two alcohol sessions are averaged together)
- Drug Effects Questionnaire Score - Like - Alcohol Infusion(During two alcohol sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two alcohol sessions are averaged together)
- Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ) - Feel - Saline Infusion(During two saline (placebo) sessions which could occur on two of four possible days: 1 or 2 and 15 or 16; data from the two saline sessions are averaged together)