The investigators will use real-time fMRI neurofeedback to enhance participants' ability to control their ability to modulate alcohol valuation.

All study procedures will take place during a single study visit. Before the imaging session, a research assistant will aid the participant to select salient images related to individualized future goals as well as alcohol images which elicit self-reported craving. All participants will complete two fMRI runs within a single session. In run 1 of the scan (offline classifier training), participants will perform an image viewing task displaying alternating blocks of these goal- and alcohol-related images. Between the image viewing blocks we will assess reinforcer pathology with brief in-scanner measures of alcohol valuation (BAAD). In total, there will be six blocks each of the goal-oriented images, alcohol-related images, and BAAD (18 blocks total). Since this is a proof-of-concept experiment, the interspersed BAAD blocks will enable monitoring and validating changes in the participant's alcohol valuation after the image viewing blocks. Only the fMRI measures of goal- and alcohol-related image viewing will be used to build a support vector classifier (SVC). The participants will see a dial with a needle on the screen along with instructions to think of either future goals or alcohol cues. The dial will be directly controlled by ongoing output from the SVC, updating the needle position as participants imagine immediate (alcohol-related) or delayed (goal-related) cues. Based on this, it is expected that participants will have increased whole-brain signal-to-noise for alcohol vs. goal fMRI analyses and increased recruitment of frontal-parietal networks from enhanced visual attention to the task.

Inclusion Criteria:

• self-report alcohol abuse
• be 21 years of age or older
• have a desire to quit or cut down on their drinking, but do not have proximate plans to enroll in treatment for AUD during the study period

Exclusion Criteria:

• meeting moderate to severe DSM-5 criteria for substance-use disorders other than alcohol or nicotine
• having a current diagnosis of any psychotic disorder
• having a history of seizure disorders or traumatic brain injury
• having any contraindication for participation in the MRI sessions
• reporting current pregnancy or lactation

Investigators will adhere to all NIH requirements regarding data sharing. Participant data collected in this project will be de-identified and made available on a shared secured data repository. We will also share the analysis results. As part of this process, all investigators will be required to agree to the following conditions: 1) will adhere to the reporting responsibilities; 2) will not redistribute the data beyond the requesting individual and named collaborators; 3) will give appropriate acknowledgement; 4) will not use the data for commercial purposes; and 5) will obtain appropriate ethical approvals. Results from research conducted will be shared and disseminated, including: regular project meetings, annual meetings, symposia, workshops, and/or conferences for related groups. Manuscripts will be written and submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals/conferences, following the NIH Public Access Policy guidelines. All necessary ethical approvals will be obtained.

Data will be made available upon request after dissemination of results.

Data requests will be reviewed by the principal investigator and data will be shared with the expectation of acknowledgment of funding source and primary study team.

During the real time fMRI scan, approximately 1 hour (single session)