R01AA029222
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Making Connections Among Social Ties, Neural Sensitivity to Social Signals, and Outcomes - Project Summary
Social isolation is associated with excessive alcohol use, depression, anxiety, and other poor outcomes (e.g., Daeppen et al., 2013; Moos et al., 2001; Muller et al., 2017; Zuckermann et al., 2020). Substantial variability also exists in these associations, such that individuals with limited social ties do experience positive outcomes and socially connected individuals similarly do experience negative outcomes (Bond et al., 2007; Bryan et al., 2017; Eddie & Kelly, 2017; Spohr et al., 2019).
Despite the importance of social factors in alcohol use and related outcomes, the mechanisms via which social connectedness or isolation yield positive and negative outcomes remains largely unexplored, in part due to difficulties eliciting and quantifying interpersonal processes in a parametric manner. We have previously shown that sensitivity to social signals may be parameterized in the context of interactive behavioral economic games and provide powerful tools with which to examine sources of variability and potential mechanisms through which social preferences are related to mental health (Chung et al., 2015; Chiu et al., 2008; King-Casas et al., 2005, 2008; King-Casas & Chiu, 2012).
Here, we use these tools to test the possibility that sensitivity to social signals in the context of social interaction influences how social ties yield variability in alcohol use, mood, and anxiety. To examine associations among social connectedness, sensitivity to social signals, and outcomes, we combine a longitudinal cohort design including time-lagged mediation analyses, functional neuroimaging, and a behavioral economic social exchange task. We will assess these associations (i) contemporaneously in Aim 1, (ii) over time in Aim 2, and (iii) following social restrictions related to COVID-19 in a large online sample in Aim 3.
The broad hypothesis is that sensitivity to social signals (as measured by neurocomputational indices) will both moderate and mediate associations between social ties and alcohol use and related outcomes. The work is submitted in response to PAR-19-373 requesting applications addressing basic mechanisms of social connectedness, connection, and isolation, including those related to COVID-19. The application further is in line with specific interests of NIAAA and NIMH in "mechanistic studies of the biopsychosocial causes and effects of social connection and isolation" and "behavioral [and] neurobiological mechanisms of social connection and isolation leading to alcohol use, addiction, or cessation of consumption."
Social isolation is associated with excessive alcohol use, depression, anxiety, and other poor outcomes (e.g., Daeppen et al., 2013; Moos et al., 2001; Muller et al., 2017; Zuckermann et al., 2020). Substantial variability also exists in these associations, such that individuals with limited social ties do experience positive outcomes and socially connected individuals similarly do experience negative outcomes (Bond et al., 2007; Bryan et al., 2017; Eddie & Kelly, 2017; Spohr et al., 2019).
Despite the importance of social factors in alcohol use and related outcomes, the mechanisms via which social connectedness or isolation yield positive and negative outcomes remains largely unexplored, in part due to difficulties eliciting and quantifying interpersonal processes in a parametric manner. We have previously shown that sensitivity to social signals may be parameterized in the context of interactive behavioral economic games and provide powerful tools with which to examine sources of variability and potential mechanisms through which social preferences are related to mental health (Chung et al., 2015; Chiu et al., 2008; King-Casas et al., 2005, 2008; King-Casas & Chiu, 2012).
Here, we use these tools to test the possibility that sensitivity to social signals in the context of social interaction influences how social ties yield variability in alcohol use, mood, and anxiety. To examine associations among social connectedness, sensitivity to social signals, and outcomes, we combine a longitudinal cohort design including time-lagged mediation analyses, functional neuroimaging, and a behavioral economic social exchange task. We will assess these associations (i) contemporaneously in Aim 1, (ii) over time in Aim 2, and (iii) following social restrictions related to COVID-19 in a large online sample in Aim 3.
The broad hypothesis is that sensitivity to social signals (as measured by neurocomputational indices) will both moderate and mediate associations between social ties and alcohol use and related outcomes. The work is submitted in response to PAR-19-373 requesting applications addressing basic mechanisms of social connectedness, connection, and isolation, including those related to COVID-19. The application further is in line with specific interests of NIAAA and NIMH in "mechanistic studies of the biopsychosocial causes and effects of social connection and isolation" and "behavioral [and] neurobiological mechanisms of social connection and isolation leading to alcohol use, addiction, or cessation of consumption."
Funding Goals
TO DEVELOP A SOUND FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE BASE WHICH CAN BE APPLIED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED METHODS OF TREATMENT AND MORE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING ALCOHOLISM AND ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM (NIAAA) SUPPORTS RESEARCH IN A BROAD RANGE OF DISCIPLINES AND SUBJECT AREAS RELATED TO BIOMEDICAL AND GENETIC FACTORS, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS AND MEDICAL DISORDERS, HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, AND PREVENTION AND TREATMENT RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Roanoke,
Virginia
240164950
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 386% from $647,092 to $3,144,300.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University was awarded
Social Signals & Alcohol Outcomes: Exploring Neural Sensitivity
Project Grant R01AA029222
worth $3,144,300
from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in September 2021 with work to be completed primarily in Roanoke Virginia United States.
The grant
has a duration of 4 years 8 months and
was awarded through assistance program 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Research on biopsychosocial factors of social connectedness and isolation on health, wellbeing, illness, and recovery (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/20/25
Period of Performance
9/20/21
Start Date
5/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$3.1M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$3.1M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to R01AA029222
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
R01AA029222
SAI Number
R01AA029222-3892531888
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
75N500 NIH National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Funding Office
75N500 NIH National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Awardee UEI
QDE5UHE5XD16
Awardee CAGE
4B976
Performance District
VA-06
Senators
Mark Warner
Timothy Kaine
Timothy Kaine
Budget Funding
Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services (075-0894) | Health research and training | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $931,035 | 75% |
Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services (075-0846) | Health research and training | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $317,569 | 25% |
Modified: 8/20/25