Development Of Neuroimaging Methods To Assess The Neurobiology Of Addiction

Eligibility Criteria

• 1. Eighteen years or older.
• 2. Ability to provide written informed consent as determined by physical examination and verbal communication. Capacity to consent will be determined by those obtaining the informed consent.
• 3. Willingness to abstain from drug use on scheduled testing days.
• 1. Positive urine pregnancy test in females.
• 2. Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body that are contraindicated for MRI of the head (including but not limited to pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, brain stimulators, some types of dental implants, aneurysm clips, metallic prostheses, permanent eyeliner, implanted delivery pump, or shrapnel fragments) or fear of enclosed spaces as determined by the self-report checklist.
• 3. Claustrophobia.
• 4. Body weight \>550 lbs, which is the weight limit of the MR scanner.
• 5. Current DSM-5 diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder (other than nicotine/caffeine use disorders) as determined by history and clinical exam including substance use disorder, alcoholism and alcohol dependence. Past history of a mental disorder as defined by DSM-IV or DSM-5 will be excluded only if it was severe enough as to require hospitalization (any length), or chronic medication management (more than 4 weeks), or that could impact brain function at the time of the study. Subjects receiving psychotherapy may be included in the study.
• 6. Those with a binge drinking history every month continuously for the last 10 years will also be excluded. Binge drinkers are those who being female consume 4 or more drinks and males consume 5 or more drinks in one occasion at least once a month.
• 7. Serious neurological disorder such as MS, Parkinson s Disease, ALS, sensory loss or peripheral neuropathy.
• 8. Currently taking any psychoactive drugs such as Celexa (TM), Prozac (TM), Wellbutrin (TM), Zoloft (TM), and/or stimulants other than caffeine such as Adderall (TM), Dexedrine (TM) and Ritalin (TM). Subjects taking PRN medications (e.g., sleep medications) may be included in the study.
• 9. Clinically significant laboratory or examination results.
• 10. Study investigators and staff, as well as their superiors, subordinates and immediate family members (adult children, spouses, parents, siblings).
• 11. \*Non-English speakers (must also be able to read and comprehend English).
• * The intent of the research has no prospect of direct benefit to the subject. Therefore, we are excluding non-English speakers in this research study since our fMRI paradigms (particularly the Delay Discounting task) require that the subject be able to speak, read and comprehend English.