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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
Cognitive mediation of alcohol's effects on women's in-the-moment sexual decision making
Jeanette Norris1, Susan A Stoner, Danielle M Hessler
1Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105-4631, USA. norris@u.washington.edu
Objective:
To test a cognitive mediation model examining whether cognitive appraisals mediate alcohol consumption effects on condom request and unprotected sex intentions.
Design:
Female social drinkers (N = 173) participated in an experiment comparing four beverage conditions: control, placebo, target BAL = .04%, and target BAL = .08%. Subjects projected themselves into a hypothetical sexual encounter with a new sex partner.
Measures:
Appraisals of the situation's sexual potential, impelling and inhibiting cognitions, and behavioral intentions were assessed at several points.
Results:
Findings support the theoretical model, indicating that alcohol's effects on direct condom request and unprotected sex intentions were mediated through cognitive appraisals.
Conclusion:
Prevention interventions should include information about alcohol's effects on cognitions that may lead to ineffective condom negotiation and unprotected sex.
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