Blunted Expected Reward Value Signals in Binge Alcohol Drinkers

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2157-21.2022
• Publication Date: 2023-01-30T18:50:31Z
• Authors: Serenella Tolomeo; Alex Baldacchino; J. Douglas Steele
• Keywords: Binge drinking; Alcohol Dependence

Alcohol-related morbidities and mortality are highly prevalent, increasing the burden to societies health systems with 3 million deaths globally each year in young adults directly attributable alcohol. Cue-induced alcohol craving has been formulated as a type of aberrant associative learning, modeled using temporal difference theory an expected reward value (ERV) linked craving. Clinically, although harmful use is associated increased time spent obtaining alcohol, it also self-neglect. The latter implies that motivational aspects nonalcohol stimuli blunted. Using instrumental learning task non-alcohol-related stimuli, here, we tested hypotheses encoding cue signals predicting delivery would be blunted binge drinkers both sexes. We predicted for drinking group alone, ratings problematic correlate abnormal ERV consistent between groups (i.e., vs controls) abnormalities. Our results support our (nonalcohol cue) signal magnitude abnormality correlating use. This hypotheses, drinkers. A better understanding mechanisms will, time, facilitate development more effective interventions, which should aim decrease increase stimuli. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Allostasis predicts specific abnormalities brain function subjective experiences occur when people develop drug problems including addiction. Here, used non-alcohol-associated test prediction error showed blunting conclude fMRI can noninvasively allostasis predictions