title: Executive cognitive functions as mediators of alcohol-related aggression.
abstract: A large body of literature has documented a relation between executive cognitive functioning (ECF) and aggression. ECF encompasses 'higher-order' mental abilities such as attention, planning, organization, abstract reasoning, and self-monitoring. ECF has been defined as the ability to utilize these functions to self-regulate goal-directed behaviour. The prefrontal cortex represents the primary neurological substrate that subserves ECF. Acute alcohol consumption has been shown to disrupt ECF/prefrontal cortical functioning. Literature is reviewed linking ECF/prefrontal cortical functioning, alcohol consumption, and aggressive behaviour. A hypothetical model, based on empirical data, is presented, suggesting that ECF/prefrontal cortical functioning is an underlying aetiological mechanism for the relation between acute alcohol consumption and aggressive behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Hoaken
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Giancola
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Pihl
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol