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Alcohol effects on human risk taking.

Scott D Lane1, Don R Cherek, Cynthia J Pietras

  • 1Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, 1300 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA. scott.d.lane@uth.tmc.edu

Psychopharmacology
|December 3, 2003
PubMed
Summary
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Acute alcohol consumption increases risky behavior in laboratory settings, demonstrating a dose-response relationship. This suggests alcohol intoxication impairs sensitivity to rewards and losses, impacting decision-making.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • A well-established link exists between alcohol and risky behavior in real-world settings.
  • Laboratory studies have not consistently demonstrated acute alcohol's effects on human risk-taking behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a dose-response relationship between alcohol administration and human risk-taking.
  • To identify behavioral mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced alterations in risk-taking probability.

Main Methods:

  • A laboratory risk-taking task was employed with 16 adults.
  • Participants received placebo or varying doses of alcohol (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 g/kg) in a within-subject design.
  • Data included breath alcohol level, subjective effects, response rates, and choice probabilities.

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Main Results:

  • Alcohol administration produced expected changes in breath alcohol level, subjective effects, and response rates.
  • Alcohol consumption dose-dependently increased the selection of risky response options.
  • Higher alcohol doses (0.8 g/kg) increased the likelihood of consecutive losing risky responses after a gain.

Conclusions:

  • Acute alcohol administration can measurably alter human risk-taking in controlled laboratory environments.
  • Intoxication appears to reduce sensitivity to past rewards and recent losses, affecting risk assessment.
  • This altered sensitivity to consequences is a potential mechanism driving alcohol-related risk-taking.