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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
Alcohol intoxication and self-aggressive behavior
Michael S McCloskey1, Mitchell E Berman
1Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg 39406-5025, USA. mmcclosk@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu
Abstract:
Nonexperimental field studies have demonstrated an association between alcohol intoxication and self-aggressive behaviors across the spectrum of lethality. Although these results are suggestive, it is not yet known whether alcohol intoxication is causally related to self-aggression. The authors therefore experimentally examined the effects of alcohol intoxication (mean blood alcohol concentration of .10) on a behavioral measure of self-aggression in men (N = 40). After consuming either an alcohol or a placebo drink, participants were provided the opportunity to self-administer shock during a task disguised as a reaction-time game, with self-aggression defined by the intensity of shock chosen. Half of the participants observed a self-aggressive model (a potential moderator of alcohol-related self-aggression). Independent alcohol and model effects were found, with alcohol accounting for over 30% of the self-aggression variance.
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