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Acute alcohol effects on impulsivity: associations with drinking and driving behavior
Denis M McCarthy1, Maria E Niculete, Hayley R Treloar
1Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. mccarthydm@missouri.edu
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|June 14, 2012
Summary
Drink drivers show increased impulsivity when intoxicated, particularly in delay discounting tasks. This heightened impulsivity was observed even after accounting for individual differences in trait impulsivity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Individuals who drive after consuming alcohol (drink drivers) often exhibit higher levels of trait impulsivity.
- However, it remains unclear if intoxication itself exacerbates impulsivity in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- This study investigated whether drink drivers experience increased impulsivity while intoxicated.
- Specifically, it examined delay discounting and behavioral inhibition in relation to alcohol consumption and driving behavior.
Main Methods:
- A within-subjects design compared drink drivers and non-drink drivers in laboratory sessions with and without alcohol.
- Impulsivity was measured using the Two Choice Impulsivity Paradigm (TCIP) and the Stop-Signal Task.
- Participants also completed self-report measures of binge drinking and trait impulsivity.
Main Results:
- While sober, drink drivers and non-drink drivers did not differ in impulsive choices on the TCIP.
- Under alcohol influence, drink drivers made significantly more impulsive choices on the TCIP compared to non-drink drivers.
- No group differences were found on the Stop-Signal Task, and TCIP effects were independent of trait impulsivity.
Conclusions:
- Individuals who drink heavily before driving exhibit greater impulsivity when intoxicated compared to those who do not.
- These findings highlight the impact of alcohol intoxication on decision-making processes relevant to driving.
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