To optimally design targeted interventions aimed at reducing substance use, one must know whichcharacteristics or traits are involved in substance use and how these characteristics lead to substanceuse;these relations are likely to be complex and to involve bi-directional influences. The present project focuseson two separable traits related to substance use: reward seeking, defined as a tendency to enjoy and pursueexciting activities and new experiences, and low inhibition, defined as the tendency to act without thinking orreflection. The research primarily examines basic, elemental processes (e.g., risk tolerance, inhibitorycontrol, delay discounting, Behavioral Inhibition or Activation System functioning) that may mediate therelations between these traits and substance use. The elemental processes are hypothesized to reflect theactivity of two biological systems: an approach/reward seeking system and an inhibitory system. The rewardsystem is theorized to be responsive to reward and is responsible for activating approach behavior. Theinhibition system is theorized to be sensitive to punishment and is responsible for inhibiting ongoing behaviorand initiating active information processing. Several potential social variables are also examined as potentialmediators (i.e., substance use expectancies and peers). The research also allows for the possibility thatsubstance use itself changes the traits and the underlying elemental processes. Finally, the project examinesthe interrelations among the elemental processes themselves. All of these issues are examined in thecontext of a three-year, two cohort, longitudinal study. There are four specific aims:1. To identify the mechanisms underlying the relations leading from reward seeking and inhibition tosubstance use. Inhibition and reward seeking are distinct traits with distinct outcomes including substanceuse and abuse. Little is known, however, about the processes that link these traits to their outcomes.2. To examine the effect of substance use on the processes associated with reward seeking and inhibition.Research has shown acute effects of drug exposure on the processes under study. For example,alcoholhas been shown to have acute effects on inhibitory control. Additionally, a number of studies havedemonstrated process deficits in substance abusers. Thus, it is possible that drug use influences theprocesses underlying reward seeking and inhibition, although this has not been demonstrated longitudinally.3. To examine the relations among the underlying processes themselves. The processes examined in thepresent research come from a variety of levels and modes of assessment, ranging from elementary inhibitorycontrol through Behavioral Inhibition System functioning assessed via psychophysiology. Although each taskand measure is related to substance use and has been designed to assess one of the two hypotheticalsystems, these tasks have not been examined together previously.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Specialized Center (P50)
Project #
2P50DA005312-17A1
Application #
7389820
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1-RXL-E (29))
Project Start
2007-09-01
Project End
2012-06-30
Budget Start
2007-09-01
Budget End
2008-06-30
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$365,538
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Type
DUNS #
939017877
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
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