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Updated: May 21, 2026
09:26
Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
Impulsivity moderates the relationship between implicit associations about alcohol and alcohol use.
Chad M Burton1, Sarah L Pedersen, Denis M McCarthy
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. burtoncm@upmc.edu
Summary
Impulsivity, particularly urgency, influences how implicit alcohol associations predict drinking behavior. High urgency amplifies the link between positive alcohol associations and increased alcohol consumption.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Implicit alcohol associations and impulsivity are known predictors of alcohol use.
- Understanding the interplay between these factors is crucial for addiction research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate impulsivity as a moderator in the relationship between implicit alcohol associations and alcohol consumption.
- To examine specific facets of impulsivity, including urgency, in this context.
Main Methods:
- 219 participants completed Implicit Association Tests (IAT) for alcohol associations and self-report measures of impulsivity and alcohol use.
- Impulsivity was assessed across five distinct trait facets.
- Statistical analyses explored moderation effects.
Main Results:
- All impulsivity facets and positive implicit alcohol associations correlated positively with past-month alcohol use.
- Positive and negative urgency facets of impulsivity moderated the association between positive implicit alcohol associations and alcohol use.
- Individuals high in urgency showed a stronger link between positive implicit alcohol associations and increased drinking.
Conclusions:
- Urgency, a facet of impulsivity, plays a significant role in translating implicit alcohol associations into actual drinking behavior.
- These findings highlight the importance of targeting urgency in interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption.
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