Neural Mechanisms Underlying Alcohol Induced Disinhibition

Inclusion Criteria: * male and female Caucasian volunteers aged 18 years/0 months to 19 years/11 months; * written informed consent by the subject; * habitual social drinking during the two months preceding participation, defined by at least one drinking day in any two weeks-interval; * at least one prior experience of alcohol intoxication * being able to abstain from tobacco use for four hours without developing nicotine withdrawal symptoms; * effective contraception in female participants; * consenting to abstain from any illegal substance use for 2 weeks prior to participation; * living within 15 km (9.5 miles) from downtown Dresden; * sufficient information concerning alcohol use in both parents and in at least four second-degree relatives Exclusion Criteria: * prior medical treatment due to alcohol use; * current or prior history of any serious disease, including CNS, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, endocrine, alcohol or drug dependence, but not alcohol abuse; * current history of Axis-I psychiatric illness, including premenstrual dysphoric disorder; * current or prior history of alcohol-induced flushing reactions; * positive urine screen for cannabinoids, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, or benzodiazepines; * light or non-drinkers: averaging less than 2 standard drinks per week in the preceding two months; * intention to become pregnant * pregnancy or positive urine pregnancy screening or breast-feeding; * any alcohol intake on the test day or the day before; * use of medications known to interact with alcohol within 2 weeks of the study; * positive hepatitis or HIV at screening, provided the subject consented to these tests * any conditions posing safety issues with the fMRI scan, such as ferromagnetic implants, cardiac pacemakers or insulin pumps