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Abstract: Background: The mesocorticolimbic dopamine system is implicated in motivation and reward and may be involved in the development of alcoholism.

Methods: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study the blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) response to alcohol‐related olfactory stimuli (AROS; odors of beer and whiskey) and non‐alcohol‐related olfactory stimuli (NAROS; odors of grass and leather) in 10 high‐risk (HR) drinkers (average drinks per week, 19.99; SD, 6.99; all with ≥2 first‐ or second‐degree alcoholic relatives) and 5 low‐risk (LR) social drinking controls (drinks per week, 2.82; SD, 2.87; 1 subject had 1 second‐degree alcoholic relative). Data were analyzed with SPM99 and random effects analysis by using regions of interest and corrected cluster statistics (p < 0.05) to focus on the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA).

Results: In HR subjects …