Scientists scan brains of binge drinkers to uncover why they crave alcohol

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: In this study, researchers will recruit 234 individuals who report binge use of alcohol or who consume alcohol moderately with no episodes of binge drinking. All participants will be recruited from the community primarily through advertisements in local newspapers, online venues like craigslist, flyers, and list-serve emails, as well as through radio and other media advertisements. Inclusion Criteria All Participants: * Male and Females between the ages of 21-25 * able to read and write in English and complete study evaluations * able to provide negative breathalyzer and negative toxicology screenings for substances at all study appointments * able to provide written and verbal consent. * Must be a beer drinker (not exclusively), to ensure subjects are not averse to the taste of beverages presented in the ATT * BMI of 18-35 Binge Drinkers: • At least twice per month binge drinking and weekly alcohol use of at least 8 standard drinks/week females or 15 or more drinks for males for the past year, with binge drinking defined as drinking enough alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 percent or higher in about 2 hours, which is typically equivalent to consuming 5 or more drinks for males, or 4 or more drinks for females. Social Drinkers: • at least weekly alcohol use for the past 6 months not to exceed 7 standard drinks/wk for women and 14 standard drinks/week for males, with no episodes of binge drinking in the past year Exclusion Criteria: All Participants: * Any psychotic disorder or current psychiatric symptoms requiring specific attention, including active symptoms of psychosis or suicidal/homicidal ideation * meets criteria for current or past moderate or severe substance use disorder * women who are pregnant or lactating * inability to give informed consent * any contraindications for MRI (e.g., medical devices in the body, claustrophobia, etc) * current PTSD or acute stress disorder * other illicit drug use as determined by a urine drug screen