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The effects of a working memory load on drinking-related decisions: The role of incentives, disincentives, and lifetime alcohol problems.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:This study extends this literature on effects of working memory (WM) load on impulsive and disadvantageous decision-making by investigating the impact of WM load on drinking-related decisions in different incentive and disincentive contexts in a large sample (n?=?821, 373 women) of young adults, 558 of whom had an alcohol use disorder (AUD). METHODS:Decisions to attend and drink at hypothetical party events that varied in terms of alcohol party incentives (high vs low) and next day responsibility disincentives (high vs moderate vs low) were assessed. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a WM load (n?=?387) or no load condition (n?=?434). RESULTS:Analyses revealed that the WM load reduced the degree to which a high disincentive deterred attendance decisions; attendance decisions were more likely under WM load in the high disincentive contexts. This effect was not found in the moderate or low disincentive contexts. Additionally, a WM load increased the effects of high alcohol party incentives on both decisions to attend and drink. The WM load also resulted in faster attendance decision reaction times, suggesting that subjects were more impulsive under load. CONCLUSIONS:These results suggest that a WM load had a general effect of disrupting the decision-making process, reducing the inhibitory effects of high disincentives, amplifying the facilitating effects of high party incentives on alcohol-related decisions, and reducing decision deliberation times (reaction times). This suggests that individuals under significant cognitive load engage in more impulsive and riskier decisions when deciding to attend and drink at party events.

SUBMITTER: Ingram PF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6901129 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The effects of a working memory load on drinking-related decisions: The role of incentives, disincentives, and lifetime alcohol problems.

Ingram Polly F PF Finn Peter R PR

Drug and alcohol dependence 20190920

<h4>Background</h4>This study extends this literature on effects of working memory (WM) load on impulsive and disadvantageous decision-making by investigating the impact of WM load on drinking-related decisions in different incentive and disincentive contexts in a large sample (n = 821, 373 women) of young adults, 558 of whom had an alcohol use disorder (AUD).<h4>Methods</h4>Decisions to attend and drink at hypothetical party events that varied in terms of alcohol party incentives (high vs low) ...[more]

PMID: 31563095

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Attitudes toward driving after drinking are strongly predictive of drinking and driving behavior. This study tested working memory capacity (WMC) as a moderator of the association between attitudes and drinking and driving behavior. Consistent with dual process models of cognition, we hypothesized that the association between perceived danger and drinking and driving would be stronger for individuals with higher WMC. METHODS:Participants (N = 161) enrolled in larger alcohol administration study were randomly assigned to an alcohol (n = 57), placebol (n = 52), or control (n = 52, not included) beverage condition. Past-year frequency of driving after drinking and WMC were assessed at baseline. Attitudes were assessed by asking participants to rate the perceived danger of driving at their current level of intoxication twice on the ascending limb (AL1, AL2), at peak breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), and twice on the descending limb (DL1, DL2). RESULTS:Analyses across the BrAC curve indicated that the hypothesized interaction was observed for the alcohol but not placebo condition. Analyses for each assessment point indicated that the interaction was significant for the ascending limb and peak BrAC. In the alcohol condition, for those higher in WMC, lower perceived dangerousness was strongly associated with increased driving after drinking (AL1: incident rate ratios [IRR] = 5.87, Wald's ?2 = 12.39, p = 0.006, 95% CI [2.19, 15.75]; AL2: IRR = 8.17, Wald's ?2 = 11.39, p = 0.001, 95% CI [2.41, 27.66]; Peak: IRR = 5.11, Wald's ?2 = 9.84, p = 0.002, 95% CI [1.84, 14.16]). Associations were not significant at low WMC. CONCLUSIONS:Results suggest that individuals higher in WMC are more likely to act consistently with their explicit attitudes toward drinking and driving. Findings may have implications for existing drinking and driving interventions and suggest the potential for novel interventions targeting implicit associations or WMC.

Dataset Information

The effects of a working memory load on drinking-related decisions: The role of incentives, disincentives, and lifetime alcohol problems.

Publications

The effects of a working memory load on drinking-related decisions: The role of incentives, disincentives, and lifetime alcohol problems.

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