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Maintaining intentional control of behavior under alcohol.
1Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. kegratta@watarts.uwaterloo.ca
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|March 10, 2001
Summary
Positive reinforcement helps maintain controlled processes under alcohol. This suggests that the consequences of behavior influence intentional control when drinking.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Investigates the impact of alcohol on cognitive processes.
- Examines the interplay between controlled and automatic processes in decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if positive reinforcement can mitigate alcohol's impairing effects on controlled cognitive processes.
- To assess the role of behavioral consequences in maintaining intentional control under intoxication.
Main Methods:
- Employed a process dissociation paradigm with a word-stem completion task.
- Utilized a between-subjects design with alcohol (0.56 g/kg) or placebo, and reinforcement or no-reinforcement conditions.
- Included male social drinkers in four experimental groups.
Main Results:
- Alcohol's negative impact on controlled processes was reduced when correct performance was reinforced.
- Controlled processes were significantly lower in the alcohol group without reinforcement compared to the placebo group.
- Automatic processes remained unaffected by alcohol or reinforcement.
Conclusions:
- Positive reinforcement enhances the influence of controlled processes in individuals who have consumed alcohol.
- The degree of intentional control retained under alcohol is contingent upon situational consequences.
- Controlled processes appear to facilitate rewarded behaviors even during alcohol intoxication.