Visual Alcohol Cue-Reactivity and Cognitive Control in Non-Dependent Heavy Alcohol Drinkers Assessed by Simultaneous...

Addictive behavior is characterized by fast automatic responses to drug-related cues (termed cue reactivity) and deficient cognitive control. The ability to detect errors is a prerequisite for an adaptive increase of cognitive control to prevent further errors. In the current study, cue-reactivity effects on cognitive control were assessed via hemodynamic activity within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG), assessing error monitoring (error-related negativity/error negativity, ERN/Ne) and error adaption in subsequent trials (N2). Nondependent social drinkers were the focus in this multimodal approach.

Effects of alcohol consumption patterns and the personality trait of impulsivity were assessed in n = 55 social drinkers. Hemodynamic activity within the dlPFC (cognitive control), error monitoring (ERN/Ne), post-error conflict monitoring (N2), error rates, and post-error slowing (PES) were measured during a modified Eriksen flanker task cued by beverage pictures.

ERN/Ne amplitudes were reduced during alcohol-cued trials. Post-error adaption was reflected in increased dlPFC activity after errors, whereas N2 amplitudes were reduced. There was a correlation of impulsivity and alcohol-cued ERN/Ne amplitude that was mediated by alcohol consumption pattern.

Impulsivity-related decreases in error monitoring during cue reactivity were mediated by alcohol consumption pattern. However, cognitive control was not affected by cue reactivity, suggesting more complex interactions than previously assumed.