Here we use data from a sample of 759 university students to probe how differences in reward-related VS activity and threat-related amygdala reactivity might jointly contribute to distinct pathways of problem drinking and AUD risk. We focus specifically on problem drinking in the context of recent life stress, because stressful life experiences are a known risk factor for the development and persistence of AUD,30 as well as potent modulators of signaling in both neural circuits.31, 32 Based on the literature reviewed above, we hypothesized that particularly high levels of stress-related problem drinking will occur in individuals with a combination of relatively high VS and low amygdala reactivity, presumably through a positive emotion enhancement and disinhibition pathway, and those with a low VS and high amygdala reactivity, presumably through a relief/coping pathway.
