Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
08:05
A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
Drunker than intended: misperceptions and information treatments
1System Dynamics Group, University of Bergen, Fosswinckelsgt.6, Bergen N-5007, Norway. erling.moxnes@ifi.uib.no
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|July 24, 2009
Summary
Juveniles often drink too much alcohol due to misperceiving their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). A simulator study showed that stomach alcohol delays cause BAC to overshoot intended levels, suggesting a need for better education on alcohol consumption dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Decision Making
- Physiology
Background:
- Alcohol intoxication in juveniles is a significant public health issue.
- Overshooting intended intoxication levels may stem from simplified decision-making strategies.
- The physiological delay in alcohol absorption from the stomach complicates blood alcohol concentration (BAC) dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that juveniles employ simplified drinking strategies leading to BAC overshoots.
- To investigate the role of perceived versus intended BAC in juvenile drinking behavior.
- To explore educational interventions for preventing excessive alcohol consumption in adolescents.
Main Methods:
- A laboratory experiment involving high school students.
- Utilized a personalized BAC simulator to model drinking decisions.
- Complemented experimental data with questionnaires and additional simulations.
Main Results:
- Significant BAC overshoots occur, particularly with longer stomach alcohol delays.
- A consistent feedback strategy explains drinking behavior across different delay conditions.
- Written information about stomach delay did not reduce overshoots; simulator training did.
Conclusions:
- Simulator training, analogies, and rules of thumb may help juveniles avoid overshooting intended BAC.
- Findings suggest a need to modify common advice regarding drinking on an empty stomach.
- Further research is warranted to develop effective educational tools for safe alcohol consumption.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:18False Memories
False memories represent a cognitive distortion in which individuals recall events that did not happen, or remember them in an altered form. This phenomenon highlights the brain's constructive nature in processing and recalling memories, emphasizing that memory is not a perfect representation of past events but rather a dynamic reconstruction influenced by various factors.
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information with...
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information with...
01:28Depressants
Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
02:07Blind Procedures
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which child was...
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:25Beck's Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...