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Published on: September 19, 2014
Alcohol consumption primes automatic alcohol-approach associations
Suzan R Farris1, Brian D Ostafin
1Department of Psychology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58105, USA.
Alcohol consumption may activate automatic mental processes linked to problematic alcohol use. This study found that the more alcohol participants drank, the stronger their automatic alcohol motivation became.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Science
Background:
- Problematic alcohol use is increasingly linked to automatic mental processes.
- Previous research indicates alcohol consumption can prime alcohol-seeking behaviors.
- However, the effect of alcohol on automatic alcohol-related cognitions remains under-examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of alcohol consumption on automatic alcohol motivation.
- To measure changes in automatic alcohol motivation following controlled beer consumption.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-five at-risk drinkers participated in the study.
- Automatic alcohol motivation was measured at baseline and after a 10-minute beer taste-test.
- Participants consumed beer freely during the taste-test, followed by an absorption period.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between the amount of alcohol consumed and automatic alcohol motivation.
- This relationship held even when controlling for baseline levels of automatic alcohol motivation.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol consumption appears to activate automatic mental processes.
- These activated processes may contribute to the development and maintenance of problematic alcohol use.
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