Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
Published on: April 28, 2022
Intoxication after an acute dose of alcohol: an assessment of its association with alcohol consumption patterns by
1Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Abstract:
We examined the hypothesis that genetically determined differences in sensitivity to alcohol explain some of the genetic variation in alcohol consumption pattern. Self-report data on average weekly alcohol consumption and self-ratings of intoxication after a standard dose of ethanol (0.75 g/kg body weight), used as an index of sensitivity, were obtained on 206 Australian twin pairs. Significant genetic covariance between weekly consumption and level of intoxication after alcohol intake was found in males, lower ratings of intoxication being associated with increased consumption. However, when direction of causation models were fitted to the male twin data, the hypothesis that decreased sensitivity was a cause of increased consumption was rejected. The major causal effect was that of weekly consumption on level of sensitivity. A similar, although nonsignificant, trend was observed in females. The strength of the association between self-report of average weekly consumption and level of intoxication after a standard dose of alcohol supports the validity of the former measure.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Test of Independence
The test statistic for a test of independence is similar to that of a goodness-of-fit test:
Hypothesis Test for Test of Independence
H0: The two variables (factors)...
Determination of Expected Frequency
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...

