Understanding Alcohol Reward in Social Context
Understanding Alcohol Reward in Social Context
In this study, the investigators examine whether emotional and social reward from alcohol
 varies depending on the social context of consumption.
Objective: Although the vast majority of alcohol consumption outside the laboratory occurs in
 social context, experimental studies of alcohol's emotionally reinforcing effects have
 overwhelmingly examined individuals drinking in isolation. The current study examines
 motivationally salient elements of everyday social drinking contexts as moderators of
 alcohol-related reinforcement. More specifically, the present study examine whether alcohol
 is more reinforcing within the context of unfamiliar vs. familiar social interaction and,
 further, whether alcohol is more reinforcing within the context of low vs. high quality
 social relationships. The current study furthermore examine whether individuals with
 characteristics that put them at risk for developing an alcohol use disorder (e.g., male
 gender, impulsive/extraverted personality profile, heavy patterns of consumption, family
 history of AUD, ...) exhibit heightened emotional reinforcement from alcohol within these
 social drinking contexts.

 The current project represents a test of competing theories of alcohol reinforcement. Alcohol
 myopia theory-which has heretofore represented the most prominent theory of alcohol's
 effects-predicts that alcohol's ability to relieve stress depends on the nature (positive or
 negative) of stimuli in the drinker's immediate environment. Alcohol myopia theory might thus
 predict that alcohol's rewarding effects will be larger within familiar interactions and
 within secure relationships. In contrast, the social attributional theory of alcohol
 reinforcement predicts that alcohol-related reinforcement will be most pronounced within the
 context of unfamiliar social interactions.

 In addition to providing an opportunity to test contextual and individual-level moderators of
 alcohol reinforcement, the current study represents an opportunity to directly test the
 replicability of research indicating a pronounced reinforcing effect of alcohol specifically
 within interactions among unfamiliar individuals (Sayette et al., 2012; Fairbairn et al.,
 2013).

 Study Population: Participants will consist of 600 male and female drinkers, aged 21-30, with
 no reported history of severe alcohol use disorder. Participants will be sampled such that at
 least 360 of these participants will classify as heavy drinkers.

 Design: In the laboratory arm of the study, individuals will be randomly assigned to consume
 either a moderate dose of alcohol or a control beverage in the company of either familiar or
 unfamiliar individuals. Of these individuals, a subset will also participate in an ambulatory
 assessment period over the course of several weeks to examine the interaction of alcohol and
 social contextual factors in daily life. In the ambulatory study arm, participants will wear
 transdermal sensors to assess BAC and will further provide information about their mood and
 their social contexts in response to random prompts.

 Outcome Measures: Primary outcome measures include self-reports of positive and negative mood
 and perceived social reinforcement. The investigators will also examine facial expressions
 using the Facial Action Coding System, a comprehensive, anatomically-based system for
 categorizing facial muscle movement. One aim of the current study is to examine whether
 differential reinforcement from alcohol in unfamiliar social contexts emerges only with
 respect to self-reports, or is also observable within facial behaviors.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Between the ages of 21 and 30

 -  Currently drinks alcohol

 -  Able to provide at least 2 same-gender friend referrals

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Female participant is pregnant or trying to become pregnant

 -  Endorsed medical disorder caused by, or made worse by, alcohol

 -  History of severe alcohol problems

 -  Use of drugs known to interact with alcohol