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Effects of alcohol-induced working memory decline on alcohol consumption and adverse consequences of use

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Abstract

Rationale

Alcohol use appears to decrease executive function acutely in a dose-dependent manner, and lower baseline executive function appears to contribute to problematic alcohol use. However, no studies, to our knowledge, have examined the relationship between individual differences in working memory (a subcomponent of executive function) after alcohol consumption and drinking behaviors and consequences.

Objectives

The current study assessed the relationship between drinking behavior, alcohol-related consequences, and alcohol-induced changes in working memory (as assessed by Trail Making Test-B).

Method

Participants recruited from the community (n = 41), 57.3 % male, mean age 39.2, took part in a three-session, within-subjects, repeated-measures design. Participants were administered a placebo, 0.4 g/kg, or 0.8 g/kg dose of alcohol. Working memory, past 30-day alcohol consumption, and consequences of alcohol use were measured at baseline; working memory was measured again after each beverage administration.

Results

Poorer working memory after alcohol administration (controlling for baseline working memory) was significantly associated with a greater number of drinks consumed per drinking day. Additionally, we observed a significant indirect relationship between the degree of alcohol-induced working memory decline and adverse consequences of alcohol use, which was mediated through greater average drinks per drinking day.

Conclusions

It is possible that greater individual susceptibility to alcohol-induced working memory decline may limit one’s ability to moderate alcohol consumption as evidenced by greater drinks per drinking day and that this results in more adverse consequences of alcohol use.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, grant R01AA016978 to Dr. Kahler. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, USA

    William V. Lechner, Jane Metrik & Christopher W. Kahler

  2. Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, USA

    Anne M. Day

  3. Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, USA

    Jane Metrik

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA

    Adam M. Leventhal

Authors
  1. William V. Lechner
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  2. Anne M. Day
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  3. Jane Metrik
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  4. Adam M. Leventhal
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  5. Christopher W. Kahler
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Correspondence to William V. Lechner.

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Lechner, W.V., Day, A.M., Metrik, J. et al. Effects of alcohol-induced working memory decline on alcohol consumption and adverse consequences of use. Psychopharmacology 233, 83–88 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-015-4090-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-015-4090-z

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