Mediation analyses of vmPFC cue response (β contrast), differences in RMSSD across alcohol (AL) and neutral (NE) blocks, and AUDIT score. All six models of mediation were tested with age and gender as covariates. Model 1 showed a significant and complete mediation: vmPFC activity → RMSSD (AL – NE) → AUDIT score. Solid lines represent significant correlation, dotted lines represent insignificant correlation, *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.