Probing the influence of neural stress responses on problematic alcohol use with real-time fMRI neurofeedback (C04)

• Subject Area: Clinical Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ; Biological Psychiatry ; Human Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience ; Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 402170461

In the 1st FP we combined real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback (rtfMRI NF) with mindfulness-based training in patients with AUD. In the 2nd FP we will integrate our rtfMRI NF capabilities into the research topic of stress and alcohol use in the TRR 265. In combination with an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) follow-up of real-life drinking behavior, we will conduct a ‘mechanistic probe’ study in which we test how the modulation of neural stress networks influences acute craving and how self-regulation capability for neural stress responses is related to subsequent alcohol use.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 265: Losing and Regaining Control over Drug Intake: From Trajectories to Mechanisms to Interventions
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Dr. Martin Fungisai Gerchen, since 7/2023; Professor Dr. Falk Kiefer; Professor Dr. Peter Kirsch