Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
09:26
Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
Alcohol dependence and anxiety increase error-related brain activity
Arnt F A Schellekens1, Ellen R A de Bruijn, Christa A A van Lankveld
1Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|September 16, 2010
Summary
Alcohol-dependent patients showed increased error monitoring, contrary to expectations. Comorbid anxiety disorders were linked to heightened error monitoring in these patients, suggesting distinct patient subgroups.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Error detection is vital for goal-directed behavior.
- Diminished error monitoring, indicated by reduced error-related negativity (ERN), is observed in substance dependence and some psychiatric disorders.
- ERN is increased in anxiety disorders, but decreased in conditions like ADHD and borderline personality disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate error monitoring in alcohol-dependent patients, considering psychiatric comorbidities.
- To determine if impulse control disorders are associated with decreased error monitoring and anxiety disorders with increased error monitoring in alcohol dependence.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing 29 male alcohol-dependent patients undergoing detoxification with 15 healthy controls.
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a reaction task to calculate ERN amplitudes.
- Psychiatric comorbidities (Axis I and II) were assessed using structured interviews; mood and personality were evaluated with standardized questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Alcohol-dependent patients exhibited significantly increased ERN amplitudes compared to healthy controls.
- This increase in error monitoring was particularly pronounced in alcohol-dependent patients with comorbid anxiety disorders.
Conclusions:
- Contrary to prior research suggesting reduced error monitoring in substance use disorders, this study found increased error monitoring in alcohol dependence.
- The heightened error monitoring in alcohol-dependent patients with anxiety disorders suggests distinct neurobiological profiles.
- These findings may necessitate tailored treatment strategies for specific subpopulations of alcohol-dependent individuals based on their comorbidities.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
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...
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...
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...