Effects of Stereotype Threat on Impulsivity and Its Relation to Alcohol Use in African Americans: An fMRI Study

总结 非裔美国人患酒精相关后遗症的几率更高（例如，肝硬化，死亡率） 他们的欧洲美国同行。因此，从公共卫生的角度来看， 了解非洲裔美国人饮酒行为的独特因素。到 为此，许多研究都集中在了解社会和环境因素（社会 决定因素）有助于增加非裔美国人的酒精使用。然而，通过 这些社会决定因素对酒精使用行为的影响知之甚少，导致缺乏 加强酒精使用障碍（AUD）预防和干预战略所需的重要信息。我们 最近表明，暴露于一种常见的压力源，刻板印象的威胁，与增加 冲动性-澳元风险的一个关键中介机制。刻板印象威胁是一种行为现象， 当环境中的线索唤起与个人群体相关的负面刻板印象时， 触发认知过程对行为产生负面影响。对非洲裔美国人的一种持久的刻板印象 社区的问题是，他们经历了高水平的酒精/物质使用。我们已经证明， 这些与种族有关的负面刻板印象助长了冲动。此外，我们的数据显示， 非裔美国人的冲动性与饮酒有关。这些发现揭示了ST诱导的冲动 作为AUD风险行为的新关联。与NIAAA的目标一致， 了解的机制有助于AUD风险，我们建议调查的神经机制 与ST诱发的冲动有关我们将进一步评估这些神经机制是否 与非裔美国成年人的酒精使用行为有关。与会者将包括280名非洲 经常饮酒的美国成年人。在接受功能性磁共振成像时，所有人都将完成一项测量， 在ST暴露操作之前和之后进行的冲动性测试。此操作将使用 2x2x2受试者间设计，系统性地操纵语言ST启动暴露，种族相关 刺激，和听觉相关的刺激，以评估这些暴露的影响，独立和 结合，对神经系统参与冲动决策。酒精使用行为将被评估 在扫描仪之外。我们预测ST暴露将导致情感相关和认知相关的变化， 控制相关的大脑区域。为了增加临床影响，我们将评估ST段诱导的移位与 冲动性和大脑对酒精使用行为反应。这项研究的结果将丰富我们 了解社会文化、行为和神经因素如何结合联合收割机来影响AUD风险行为。在 此外，我们的研究结果将提供更深入的了解神经系统牵连在aud-risk-systems， 可以作为新战略的目标，以增强复原力。

Summary African Americans experience higher rates of alcohol-related sequalae (e.g., cirrhosis, mortality) relative to their European American counterparts. It is thus critical from a public health perspective that we gain a deep understanding of the unique factors contributing to alcohol use behaviors in African American individuals. To this end, many studies have focused on understanding how social and environmental factors (social determinants) contribute to increased alcohol use among African Americans. Yet, the mechanisms through which these social determinants affect alcohol use behaviors are poorly understood, resulting in an absence of vital information needed to enhance alcohol use disorders (AUD) prevention and intervention strategies. We have recently shown that exposure to a common stressor, stereotype threat, is associated with increases in impulsivity – a key mediating mechanism of AUD risk. Stereotype threat (ST) is a behavioral phenomenon that arises when cues in the environment evoke negative stereotypes associated with an individual’s group, triggering cognitive processes that adversely impact behavior. An enduring stereotype of African American communities is that they experience high levels of alcohol/substance use. We have shown that exposure to these negative race-related stereotypes elevates impulsivity. Further, our data reveal that this increase in impulsivity correlates with alcohol use among African Americans. These findings reveal ST-induced impulsivity as a novel correlate of AUD-risk behaviors. In line with NIAAA’s goal to develop a more thorough understanding of the mechanisms contributing to AUD risk, we propose to investigate the neural mechanisms associated with ST-induced impulsivity. We will further assess whether these neural mechanisms are associated with alcohol use behaviors among African American adults. Participants will include 280 African American adults who regularly consume alcohol. While undergoing functional MRI, all will complete a measure of impulsivity administered both before and after an ST exposure manipulation. This manipulation will utilize a 2x2x2 between-subjects design to systematically manipulate exposure to a verbal ST prime, race-related stimuli, and AUD-related stimuli in order to assess the effects of these exposures, independently and combined, on neural systems involved in impulsive decision-making. Alcohol use behaviors will be assessed outside of the scanner. We predict that ST exposure will lead to shifts within affect-related and cognitive control-related brain regions. To increase clinical impact, we will assess the relation of ST-induced shifts in impulsivity and brain response to alcohol use behaviors. Results from the proposed study will enrich our understanding of how sociocultural, behavioral, and neural factors combine to influence AUD risk behaviors. In addition, our results will provide greater insights into the neural systems implicated in AUD-risk – systems that could serve as targets for novel strategies that enhance resilience.