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Cognitive control in young heavy drinkers: An ERP study
Ingmar H A Franken1, Maartje Luijten2, Frederik M van der Veen1
1Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|April 15, 2017
Summary
Heavy alcohol consumption in young adults did not significantly impair cognitive control. However, heavy drinkers showed reduced error-related brain activity (Pe), suggesting altered salience attribution to errors, not fundamental cognitive deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Substance use disorders are often linked to cognitive control deficits.
- The impact of heavy alcohol consumption on cognitive control in young adults remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cognitive control impairments in young heavy alcohol drinkers.
- To utilize behavioral and electrophysiological (EEG) measures for assessment.
Main Methods:
- A GoNogo task for inhibitory control and an Eriksen Flanker task for error processing were used.
- Event-related potentials (ERPs), specifically Nogo-N2/P3 and Error-Related Negativity/Pe, were measured.
- Participants included 48 heavy alcohol drinkers and 49 light drinkers (controls).
Main Results:
- Few behavioral or physiological impairments were observed in the heavy drinking group.
- A significant reduction in the error-related Pe amplitude was found in heavy drinkers compared to controls.
- This suggests altered salience attribution to errors, not a basic cognitive deficit.
Conclusions:
- Heavy drinking in young adults is not strongly associated with major cognitive control impairments.
- Findings indicate potential alterations in how errors are perceived or valued (salience).
- EEG data align with studies showing heavy drinking doesn't necessarily cause major cognitive deficits in youth.