The Effect of rTMS to the Prefrontal Cortex in Alcohol Use Disorder

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Current moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, per DSM-5

2. Use of alcohol which parallels or exceeds the amount alcohol that will beadministered in this study (1 drinking episode per week raising BAL to 0.03 g/dl -approximately 2 drinks within an hour).

3. Age 22-55

4. Able to give informed consent, and comply with study procedures

5. Medically healthy, with the absence of current or past medical or neurologicalillnesses (including glaucoma, increased intracranial pressure, liver disease,cardiac disease, or seizure disorders)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has a contraindication to MRI, such as magnetically reactive implants, whichincludes metal in head except in mouth (cochlear implant, implanted brainstimulators, aneurysm clips), cardiac pacemakers, implanted neurostimulators andmedication pumps, and intracardiac lines.

2. Substance use disorder with substances other than alcohol or nicotine. The currentuse of sedative-hypnotics or opiates will be exclusionary

3. Meets DSM-5 criteria for other psychiatric illness, such as major depression, thatwould interfere with participation.

4. History of seizures of any type

5. A family history of epilepsy

6. Taking psychotropic medication that would affect resting motor threshold (such asanticonvulsants) or increase risk of seizure (especially tricyclic antidepressantsof neuroleptics)

7. Current suicide risk or a history of suicide attempt within the past 2 years

8. Have unstable physical disorders, including those that are previously undiagnosed,untreated, inadequately treated, or active to an extent which might makeparticipation hazardous. For example, hypertension (a resting blood pressure > 140/90), heart failure, a recent history of myocardial infarction, previous stroke,brain lesions, any history of seizures under any circumstances or low hemoglobin.

9. Currently pregnant

10. History of severe alcohol withdrawal requiring medical care, such as withdrawalseizures, delirium tremens, withdrawal necessitating medical detoxification.

11. A desire to pursue standard treatment for AUD, such as a rehabilitation program orFDA approved medications for AUD