Alcohol AbuseNCT03725345
Genetic and Neural Factors in Alcohol-Related Cognition
A study testing MRI Scanner in people with Alcohol Abuse, run by Virginia Commonwealth University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study examines the genetic factors that impact cognitive processes and behavior after alcohol consumption. Participation in this project will contribute to a better understanding of cognitive factors that influence alcohol misuse. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 45 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcohol Abuse
- What is being tested?
- MRI Scanner
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 9 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 Jul 2023to 1 Nov 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 to 45 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- English speaking
- No current or regular use of prescribed or illicit psychoactive drugs
- Free of major health problems (e.g., diabetes, HIV, Parkinson's disease)
- Free of neurological or psychiatric disorders
- No current drug abuse (e.g., recreational drug use).
- Right-hand dominant
Show all 11Show fewer
- Free of claustrophobia
- Free of pregnancy or suspected pregnancy
- Absent MRI risk factors (e.g., implanted medical device, body mass index > 35, braces)
- Free of medical conditions that render individuals with overly sensitive hearing
- Non-naive to alcohol consumption
Who cannot join
- Not meeting the inclusion criteria listed above
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, 23298
About this study
This study examines the genetic factors that impact cognitive processes and behavior after alcohol consumption. Participation in this project will contribute to a better understanding of cognitive factors that influence alcohol misuse.
- Conditions
- Alcohol Abuse
- Being tested
- MRI Scanner
- Medical subject headings
- Alcoholism
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MRI ScannerBehavioural
Participants will enter the MRI scanner and complete a series of computer tasks that include noise blasts while undergoing brain scans that measure the structure and function of the brain
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Group | Active comparator | Participants who have recently consumed alcohol. Receives: Behavioral: MRI Scanner |
| No Alcohol Group | Sham comparator | Participants who have not recently consumed alcohol. Receives: Behavioral: MRI Scanner |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Changes in Alcohol-influenced Behavior
Aggressive behavior (i.e., the average volume of noise blasts selected to be administered to participants' opponents) after recent consumption of an alcoholic beverages (versus without recent consumption of an alcoholic beverages) will be measured using the validated and computerized Taylor Competitive Reaction-Time Task. The Taylor Competitive Reaction-Time Task consists of multiple trials that each assess aggression, via a four-point scale that ranges from 1 (low noise blast volume [low aggression]) to 4 (high noise blast volume [high aggression]). Noise blast settings are averaged to provide a total score ranging from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater aggression.
Measured: During the course of the MRI session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Oct 2018
- Study start11 Jul 2023
- Primary completion1 Nov 2024
- Study completion1 Nov 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Alcohol AbuseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Virginia Commonwealth UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 9 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- David Chester, PhD, Principal investigator, Virginia Commonwealth University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03725345
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HM20013938
- Other IDs
- K01AA026647
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 29 Oct 2018
- Last updated
- 5 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Genetic and Neural Factors in Alcohol-Related Cognition
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03725345
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HM20013938
- Conditions
- Alcohol Abuse
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 9 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Virginia Commonwealth UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- Study start
- 11 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Nov 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 31 Oct 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 5 Jan 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study examines the genetic factors that impact cognitive processes and behavior after alcohol consumption. Participation in this project will contribute to a better understanding of cognitive factors that influence alcohol misuse.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: MRI ScannerParticipants who have recently consumed alcohol. |
| No Alcohol Group | Sham comparator | Behavioral: MRI ScannerParticipants who have not recently consumed alcohol. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (11 listed)
- English speaking
- No current or regular use of prescribed or illicit psychoactive drugs
- Free of major health problems (e.g., diabetes, HIV, Parkinson's disease)
- Free of neurological or psychiatric disorders
- No current drug abuse (e.g., recreational drug use).
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Not meeting the inclusion criteria listed above
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MRI ScannerParticipants will enter the MRI scanner and complete a series of computer tasks that include noise blasts while undergoing brain scans that measure the structure and function of the brain | Behavioural | Alcohol Group, No Alcohol Group |
Primary outcome
Changes in Alcohol-influenced Behavior
Time frame: During the course of the MRI session
Aggressive behavior (i.e., the average volume of noise blasts selected to be administered to participants' opponents) after recent consumption of an alcoholic beverages (versus without recent consumption of an alcoholic beverages) will be measured using the validated and computerized Taylor Competitive Reaction-Time Task. The Taylor Competitive Reaction-Time Task consists of multiple trials that each assess aggression, via a four-point scale that ranges from 1 (low noise blast volume [low aggression]) to 4 (high noise blast volume [high aggression]). Noise blast settings are averaged to provide a total score ranging from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater aggression.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jan 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
David Chester, PhD principal investigator
Virginia Commonwealth University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing MRI Scanner in people with Alcohol Abuse, run by Virginia Commonwealth University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 5 Jan 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Changes in Alcohol-influenced Behavior (time frame: During the course of the MRI session). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jan 2026.