Alcohol and Social Brain Study

This study is looking at how alcohol affects social interactions and brain activity. Researchers will give participants either an alcoholic beverage (vodka mixed with juice or soda) or a non-alcoholic control beverage. They want to see how alcohol changes how people connect with others and how their brains work during social activities. The study will measure brain activity using EEG (electroencephalography) to understand these changes. You might be able to join if you are between 21 and 30 years old and regularly drink alcohol. The study aims to understand how alcohol influences social bonding and emotions, which could help in developing better ways to address Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 200 participants, aged 21-30. It uses a within-subject design, meaning each participant will experience both the alcohol and non-alcoholic conditions.
What's involved
You would attend two laboratory sessions, about one week apart, as part of a pair. During these sessions, you would consume either an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage over 36 minutes, and your brain activity would be measured.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Brain activity measurements (inter-brain entrainment, intra-brain entrainment, and Event-Related Potentials) will be taken during or immediately after beverage administration.

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NCT07125534

Alcohol and the Social Brain: An Alcohol-Administration Hyperscanning Study Employing a Within-Subject Design

Recruiting
NAAges 21–30InterventionalBasic science
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
~200 participants
Updated 2025-08-29 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Alcohol beverageControl - non alcoholic beverage

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Inter-brain entrainment
Measured over During active laboratory beverage manipulation exposure (during or immediately after beverage administration, at which time participants in the alcohol condition will register a positive BAC)
+4 more outcomes measured
Alcohol Drinking
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Alcohol Intoxication
Alcohol; Harmful Use
Alcoholism
Binge Drinking
2 sites across 1 states
Illinois2

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Between the ages of 21 and 30
Regularly consumes alcohol

Exclusion

History of adverse reaction to the amount of beverage employed in the study
Have a history of major problems associated with alcohol
Take medications that could adversely interact with alcohol
Have medical conditions that contraindicate alcohol administration
Individuals with a history of skull fractures or who indicate discomfort with EEG procedures used
Female participant is pregnant or trying to become pregnant
  • Inter-brain entrainmentDuring active laboratory beverage manipulation exposure (during or immediately after beverage administration, at which time participants in the alcohol condition will register a positive BAC)

    Synchronization metrics (e.g., inter-subject PLV, inter-subject correlation) between paired participants, assessed separately in sober and intoxicated conditions

  • Intra-brain entrainmentDuring active laboratory beverage manipulation exposure (during or immediately after beverage administration, at which time participants in the alcohol condition will register a positive BAC)

    The comparison of EEG signal synchronization within the same participant across the alcohol and non-alcohol conditions, reflecting intra-brain activity changes due to alcohol consumption during the hyperscanning task.

  • Event-Related Potentials (ERP)During active laboratory beverage manipulation exposure (during or immediately after beverage administration, at which time participants in the alcohol condition will register a positive BAC)

    Feedback-Related Negativity (FRN), measured both for the operating ("player") and observing ("observer") participant, with comparisons across sobriety conditions

  • Ambulatory Drinking14 days

    Drinking behavior assessed outside the laboratory using ambulatory assessment

  • Longitudinal Drinking ProblemsUp to 24 months post-baseline

    Drinking assessed at longitudinal follow-up