Neuroimaging Mechanisms by Which Memory and Glucocorticoids Promote Risky Drinking

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether hydrocortisone biases formation of alcohol-related memories to potentiate drinking.

Detailed Description
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This study aims to 1) Characterize the effect of elevated glucocorticoids during encoding on long-term memory for alcohol-related information; 2) Identify the neural mechanisms by which glucocorticoids influence encoding of alcohol-related experiences; and 3) Determine how glucocorticoid modulation of alcohol-related encoding relates to drinking after retrieving alcohol-related memories.

Official Title
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Neuroimaging Mechanisms by Which Memory and Glucocorticoids Promote Risky Drinking

Conditions
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Alcohol Drinking, Drinking Behavior, Episodic Memory, Long-term Memory

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Hydrocortisone 20 MG
* Other: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Able to read and write English BMI 18-35 Beer drinking Exclusion Criteria: Meet current criteria for any substance use disorder, excluding caffeine Current significant medical conditions or psychiatric symptoms requiring medication Current use of medications/drugs that interfere with the HPA axis response Peri and post-menopausal women, pregnant or lactating women, and those with hysterectomies Metal in body (for MRI safety) Systemic fungal infections (contraindication for hydrocortisone) Known hypersensitivity to components of hydrocortisone tablets (hydrocortisone, calcium stearate, corn starch, lactose, mineral oil, sorbic acid, sucrose)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: hydrocortisone<br>Participants receive hydrocortisone (20mg) | Drug: Hydrocortisone 20 MG<br>* Participants receive Hydrocortisone 20 MG<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: placebo<br>Participants receive placebo. | Other: Placebo<br>* Participants receive placebo<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes fMRI signal | Changes in fMRI signal at encoding will be assessed over an hour long period. | 1 hour | 
| Item memory | Item memory will be assessed through performance on delayed memory assessments. Item memory is determined by the accuracy of memory for individual items and will be expressed as dprime. | Up to 90 minutes | 
| Context memory | Context memory will be assessed through performance on delayed memory assessments. Context memory is determined by the accuracy of memory for associated contexts and will be expressed as % correct. | Up to 90 minutes | 
| Affect memory | Affect memory will be assessed through performance on delayed memory assessments. Affect memory is determined by subjective ratings of vividness (1-4), change in ratings from encoding to retrieval of memory (0-3). The score is averaged where a higher score indicates greater affect. | Up to 90 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alcohol motivation | Performance on alcohol taste test following memory retrieval will be assessed using the Alcohol Taste Test (ATT). The test asks participants to taste the alcohol in each two containers to identify whether the alcohol was the same or different. The % correct is used to assess this outcome. | 10 minutes | 
| Affect - Negative | Self-reported measures of emotional state following drug administration and memory retrieval using the PANAS. The negative subscale of the PANAS will be used and has a range of 10-50. Higher scores indicate higher negative affect. | 10 minutes | 
| Affect - Positive | Self-reported measures of emotional state following drug administration and memory retrieval using the PANAS. The negative subscale of the PANAS will be used and has a range of 10-50. Higher scores indicate higher positive affect. | 10 minutes | 
| Neuroendocrine/cortisol reactivity | Change in salivary cortisol levels following the hydrocortisone/placebo administration. | Baseline to 2 hours |