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Related Experiment Videos

Impulsive responding in alcoholics.

Jennifer M Mitchell1, Howard L Fields, Mark D'Esposito

  • 1Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94608, USA.

Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research
|December 31, 2005
PubMed
Summary
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Abstinent alcoholics show impaired decision-making, choosing smaller immediate rewards over larger delayed ones more frequently than controls. This highlights cognitive impulsivity as a key factor in alcoholism, distinct from motor impulsivity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Addiction Research

Background:

  • Alcoholism is characterized by impaired decision-making.
  • Laboratory measures are needed to test alcoholism treatments.
  • Delay discounting (DD) tasks assess decision-making differences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify decision-making differences in abstinent alcoholics using a novel computerized DD task.
  • To investigate the role of cognitive versus motor impulsivity in alcoholics' decision-making.

Main Methods:

  • A novel computerized delay discounting (DD) task was administered to abstinent alcoholics (n=14) and controls (n=14).
  • The task included time pressure, motor impulsivity assessment, and a non-subjective choice control.
  • Choice tendencies between immediate and delayed rewards were analyzed.

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Main Results:

  • Abstinent alcoholics chose the larger, delayed reward significantly less often than controls (p<0.02).
  • Alcoholics exhibited steeper discounting curves for reward delay and amount.
  • Steeper discounting correlated with higher alcohol addiction severity and impulsivity scores.

Conclusions:

  • Decision-making differences between alcoholics and controls were primarily due to cognitive impulsivity.
  • Motor impulsivity and non-subjective choice did not differ between groups.
  • Findings suggest cognitive impulsivity is a key factor in the decision-making deficits of alcoholism.