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Why We Like to Drink: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of the Rewarding and Anxiolytic Effects of Alcohol
Open accessAbstract
People typically drink alcohol to induce euphoria or reduce anxiety, and they frequently drink in social settings, yet the effect of alcohol on human brain circuits involved in reward and emotion has been explored only sparingly. We administered alcohol intravenously to social drinkers while brain response to visual threatening and nonthreatening facial stimuli was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Alcohol robustly activated striatal reward circuits while attenuating response to fearful stimuli in visual and limbic regions. Self-ratings of intoxication correlated with striatal activation, suggesting that activation in this area may contribute to subjective experience of pleasure and reward during intoxication. These results show that the acute pharmacological rewarding and anxiolytic effects of alcohol can be measured with fMRI.
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“Neuroimaging studies show that even a single dose of alcohol disrupts the regulation of emotional stimuli by attenuating activity in the amygdala during exposure to threatening faces (Gilman et al. 2008; Sripada et al. 2011; Gorka et al. 2013).”
From Decoding the bidirectional links between alcohol misuse and aggression: toward a unified translational framework (2026) · cites this paper as Gilman et al. 2008
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the citing paper
“The ventral striatum (VS) is central to reward processing (Knutson and Cooper 2005), and is activated by a range of rewarding stimuli including drugs of abuse (Gilman et al. 2008).”
From Effects of MDMA on sociability and neural response to social threat and social reward (2009) · cites this paper as Gilman et al. 2008
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Citations
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Neural correlates of inhibitory control are associated with stimulant-like effects of alcohol
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“These behavioral manifestations are reflected by brain imaging studies showing low [EtOH] alters neural signaling in brain regions involved in executive function (prefrontal cortex), reward and anxiety (ventral tegmental area, striatum, and amygdala), and motor coordination (cerebellum) (Mitchell et al. 2012, 2013; Ga…”
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“Because of the facilitation of risky behaviors and alcohol addiction, studies investigating changes in human brain activity following alcohol drinking are of primary importance.(5,16) However, as ethanol has a vasodilation effect disrupting the neurovascular coupling,(7) neuronal responses have been difficult to obser…”
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InfluentialSelf-citationAcute rewarding and disinhibiting effects of alcohol as indicators of drinking habits
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“Activations of the defensive circuit by threatening stimuli can be reduced by ethanol ingestion (Gilman et al., 2008, 2012a; Sripada et al., 2011), and this effect might be particular important for highly anxious individuals.”
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BackgroundAllen, D. C., Jimenez, V. A., Carlson, T. L., Walter, N. A. R., Grant, K. A., & Carlson, V. C. C. (2021) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/s41386-021-01181-5 · Cited by 9
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Korgaonkar, M. S., Felmingham, K. L., Malhi, G. S., Williamson, T. H., Williams, L. M., & Bryant, R. A. (2023) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-023-02375-9 · Cited by 9
“There are key connections between the posterior insula and subcortical regions implication in regulation of negative affect, such that some psychopathological disorders display greater activation of the posterior insula when viewing negative images [41, 42].”
BackgroundAn Experimental Investigation of Drunk Personality Using Self and Observer Reports
Winograd, R., Steinley, D., Lane, S. P., & Sher, K. J. (2017) · Clinical Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/2167702616689780 · Cited by 8
Couture, M., Pearson, R., Halloran, J., & Stewart, S. H. (2019) · Drug and Alcohol Review · doi:10.1111/dar.13003 · Cited by 8
β-Endorphin and sex differentially modulate the response to EtOH in a site-specific manner
Keen‐Rhinehart, E., Waldron, M. A., Kelly-Quigley, H., Zellers, M., Turco, A., & Grisel, J. E. (2020) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146845 · Cited by 8
Theorising transient mood after ingestion
Hammersley, R., & Reid, M. (2008) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.07.010 · Cited by 8
“(Gilman et al., 2008).”
Translational Approaches to Medication Development
Bartlett, S. E., & Heilig, M. A. (2011) · Current topics in behavioral neurosciences · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-28720-6_132 · Cited by 7
Kreusch, F., Goffaux, V., Siep, N., Houben, K., Quertemont, É., & Wiers, R. W. H. J. (2015) · Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1111/acer.12835 · Cited by 8
“Consistent with previous studies, alcohol administration increased activations in the insula and precentral regions, as well as in the anterior cingulate regions (Calhoun et al., 2004; Gilman et al., 2008).”
What role can cognitive neuroscience play in violence prevention?
Blair, J. (2019) · Aggression and Violent Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.avb.2019.02.008 · Cited by 7
Kirsch, D. E., Kosted, R., Le, V., Almeida, J., Fromme, K., Strakowski, S. M., & Lippard, E. (2023) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/s41386-023-01657-6 · Cited by 6
“Studies in healthy participants have consistently found alcohol activates the NAcc [13, 14]; however, alcohol ’ s effects on NAcc – vPFC FC in healthy adults are unclear.”
BackgroundHurzeler, T. P., Watt, J., Logge, W., Towers, E., Suraev, A. S., Lintzeris, N., Haber, P., & Morley, K. C. (2024) · Journal of Cannabis Research · doi:10.1186/s42238-024-00224-0 · Cited by 7
“Several studies have observed heightened activation in the amygdala in those with AUD relative to controls during fMRI affect reactivity tasks (Gilman et al. 2008; O’Daly et al. 2012).”
BackgroundMarshall, S. A., Robinson, S. L., Ebert, S. E., Companion, M. A., & Thiele, T. E. (2022) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037/bne0000522 · Cited by 7
β-Carboline (FG-7142) modulates fear but not anxiety-like behaviour in zebrafish
Scatterty, K. R., & Hamilton, T. J. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-51072-6 · Cited by 6
“The first additional group was treated only with 0.8% ethanol (3.2 mL EtOH + 396.8 mL water ), as one of the most commonly employed anxiolytics and fear-reducing compounds in behavioural research 50,54,56–58 .”
MethodInfluentialThe genetic basis of individual differences in reward processing and the link to addictive behavior
Yacubian, J., & Büchel, C. (2009) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374620-7.00016-9 · Cited by 7
The Dopamine System in Mediating Alcohol Effects in Humans
Beck, A., Ebrahimi, C., Rosenthal, A., Charlet, K., & Heinz, A. (2023) · Current topics in behavioral neurosciences · doi:10.1007/7854_2022_415 · Cited by 9
Laslett, A. (2013) · Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) · Cited by 6
Common Factors Underlying Diverse Responses in Alcohol Use Disorder
Chebolu, E., Schwandt, M. L., Ramchandani, V. A., Stangl, B. L., George, D. T., Horneffer, Y. R., Vinson, T., Vogt, E. L., Manor, B. A., Diazgranados, N., et al. (2021) · Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice · doi:10.1176/appi.prcp.20200028 · Cited by 5
“Psychotropic effects include euphoria, sedation, anxiolysis, and diminished motor and cognitive performance (4).”
BackgroundSelf-citationEffects of Acute Drug Administration on Emotion: a Review of Pharmacological MRI Studies
Hedger, K. V., Mayo, L. M., Bershad, A. K., Madray, R., & de Wit, H. (2021) · Current Addiction Reports · doi:10.1007/s40429-021-00362-y · Cited by 5
A dynamic analysis of the effect of alcohol consumption on humor enjoyment in a social context
Fairbairn, C. E., Velia, B. A., Creswell, K. G., & Sayette, M. A. (2019) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2019.103903 · Cited by 5
Sebold, M., Garbusow, M., Müller, C. A., Charlet, K., & Heinz, A. (2014) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-88-470-5322-9_2 · Cited by 6
Jackson, N., & Kypri, K. (2016) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.13149 · Cited by 5
“decision-making during intoxication [20,21].”
Blandino, K. L., DiLeo, A., Antonoudiou, P., Weiss, G. L., & Maguire, J. L. (2025) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-025-06928-2 · Cited by 4
“Significant interactions have been found between alcohol and the responses to threatening facial stimuli in the insula, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex (Gilman et al. 2008).”
InfluentialVieira, J. L., Coelho, S. G., Snaychuk, L. A., Tabri, N., Dawson, S. J., Hodgins, D. C., Keough, M. T., Shead, N. W., & Kim, H. S. A. (2024) · Cannabis · doi:10.26828/cannabis/2024/000256 · Cited by 7
“Individuals with elevated anxiety symptoms may be drawn to use both cannabis and alcohol due to their perceived anxiolytic effects (Gilman et al., 2008; Sharpe et al., 2020).”
Pallarés, V., Dudek, M., Moreno, A., Pérez‐Ramírez, Ú., Moratal, D., Haaranen, M., Ciccocioppo, R., Sommer, W. H., Canals, S., & Hyytiä, P. (2020) · Behavioural Pharmacology · doi:10.1097/fbp.0000000000000582 · Cited by 4
“In patients with AUD, alcohol or alcohol-associated cues activate ventral or dorsal striatum, regions of the prefrontal cortex, insula, and thalamus (Myrick et al., 2004; Filbey et al., 2008; Gilman et al., 2008; Vollstädt-Klein et al., 2010; Gilman et al., 2012a; Gilman et al., 2012b; Courtney et al., 2016; Bach et a…”
BackgroundPrefrontal Limbic-Striatal Circuits and Alcohol Addiction in Humans
Seo, D., & Sinha, R. (2014) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-405941-2.00003-1 · Cited by 5
Sher, K. J., Winograd, R., & Haeny, A. M. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118133880.hop208009 · Cited by 4
Russell, N. M., Frier, M. D., Bortolato, M., & Mangieri, R. A. (2026) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-025-06938-0 · Cited by 3
Bougelet, E., Deffaa, M., Türkmen, C., Kiefer, F., Vollstädt‐Klein, S., & Gerhardt, S. (2024) · European Addiction Research · doi:10.1159/000539711 · Cited by 4
“This learned coping mechanism can be explained by the anxiolytic effect of alcohol [55], which, in addition to the rewarding effect, reinforces conditioned learning.”
D’Aquino, S., Riordan, B. C., Cook, M., & Callinan, S. (2025) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2025.2564195 · Cited by 3
“Due to alcohol’s anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties (Gilman et al., 2008), individuals commonly report motivation to drink alcohol to cope with anxiety (Cooper, 1994; D’Aquino et al., 2023; Grant et al., 2007).”
Rossi, D. J. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-15070-8_68 · Cited by 3
Wang, Y., Yeh, Y., Lin, C., Kuo, S.-C., Chen, C., Huang, Y., Yeh, T., Huang, C., Ma, K., & Huang, S. (2025) · Addiction Biology · doi:10.1111/adb.70074 · Cited by 3
A pilot study assessing the brain gauge as an indicator of cognitive recovery in alcohol dependence
Powell, A., Tommerdahl, M., Abbasi, Y., Sumnall, H. R., & Montgomery, C. (2021) · Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental · doi:10.1002/hup.2782 · Cited by 3
“, 2003) suggesting that alcohol inhibits top down control of behaviour and primes reward‐driven, alcohol seeking behaviours (Gilman et al., 2008).”
BackgroundInfluentialAllen, H. C., Weafer, J. J., Wesley, M. J., & Fillmore, M. T. (2022) · Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1111/acer.15003 · Cited by 3
Schwarz, A. J., Plawecki, M. H., McKinzie, D. L., & Wong, C. J. (2012) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-386945-6.00011-1 · Cited by 3
Capote, H. A. (2008) · Neurologic Clinics · doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2008.09.011 · Cited by 4
Epigenetic Dysregulation in Alcohol-Associated Behaviors: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
Domi, E., Barchiesi, R., & Barbier, E. (2023) · Current topics in behavioral neurosciences · doi:10.1007/7854_2022_410 · Cited by 4
Metadata
- Authors
- Gilman, J. M., Ramchandani, V. A., Davis, M. B., Bjork, J. M., & Hommer, D. W.
- Affiliations
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Venue
- The Journal of Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- Published
- 2008-04-30
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 18
- Pages
- 4583-4591
- ISSN
- 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-2401
- PMC
- PMC2730732
- OpenAlex
- W2135192074
- Cited by
- 267
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 6.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (Z99‐AA999999)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- alcohol, reward, anxiolytic effects, striatum, fear response, facial expressions, social drinkers, poisoning, limbic system, acute alcohol effects
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alcoholic Intoxication, Alcohols, Analysis of Variance, Brain Mapping, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Oxygen, Photic Stimulation, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reward, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Linear Models
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