Emotional Attention Bias Modification and Targeted Memory Reactivation in Alcohol Use Disorder

Augmentation of Emotional Attention Bias Modification With Targeted Memory Reactivation for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Through this protocol, researchers examine whether Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR), a technique used to enhance memory, can augment the control of craving levels in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder by enhancing positive emotional attention bias modification.

This protocol uses TMR during REM sleep to strengthen associative memories generated by emotional attention bias modification (EABM), an effective treatment for controlling craving levels in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). EABM involves exposure to negative emotional words (e.g., frustrated, inferior) associated with alcohol-related cues and positive emotional words (e.g., successful, confident) associated with healthy lifestyle cues. The goal is to reduce alcohol-related cue positive emotional attention bias (EABs). In EABM training, alcohol-related cues and healthy activity (e.g., exercising, reading, playing musical instruments) images are always paired with negative words and positive words, respectively. The TMR group receives the EABM protocol with auditory cue feedback (sound S1-Alcohol; sound S2-Healthy Life); the control group receives the EABM protocol without auditory cue feedback. All patients will perform EABM every evening and will be exposed to sounds S1 and S2 during REM sleep with a wireless headband, which automatically detects sleep stages. Clinical evaluation of the EAB and craving levels of AUD will be conducted before and after (with a 2-week follow-up). The investigators hypothesize that patients treated with EABM and who are exposed during REM sleep to a sound that had previously been associated with the new negative memory of alcohol and the positive memory of a healthy lifestyle (TMR group) will have more reduced EAB and craving levels compared to participants exposed to the same, but non-associated, sound during REM sleep (control group).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18-55 years; Meets the diagnostic criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013); Alcohol withdrawal period of less than 6 months; Normal vision and hearing, or corrected to normal; Agrees to participate in the study and is able to cooperate to complete the experiment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute alcohol withdrawal period: Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Scale (CIWA-Ar) score ≥ 9; History of organic brain diseases or brain trauma; History of seizures, other neuropsychiatric disorders, or family history of psychiatric disorders; Presence of substance abuse/addiction other than alcohol (excluding nicotine addiction).