The effects of priming restrained versus disinhibited behaviour on alcohol-seeking in social drinkers.
BACKGROUND
Deficient response inhibition (disinhibition) may play a causal role in alcohol abuse, with impaired inhibition occurring prior to, and acting as a risk factor for, subsequent alcohol problems. We experimentally primed either disinhibited or restrained behaviour while participants completed a Stop-Signal task, before examining the effects on alcohol-seeking behaviour.


METHODS
Fifty three social drinkers completed a Stop-Signal task following instructions that either emphasised rapid responding at the expense of successful inhibition (Disinhibition group) or vice versa (Restrained group). Subsequent ad lib alcohol-seeking was measured with a bogus taste test.


RESULTS
As predicted, participants in the Disinhibition group consumed more beer during the taste test compared to participants in the Restrained group. Furthermore, within the Restrained group only, correlations indicated that those participants who responded more cautiously during the Stop-Signal task subsequently consumed less beer.


CONCLUSIONS
An experimental manipulation of response set during a response inhibition task, emphasising either restrained or disinhibited responding, has a causal influence on alcohol-seeking behaviour in social drinkers.
Jones
Andrew
A
University of Liverpool, UK.
Guerrieri
Ramona
R
Fernie
Gordon
G
Cole
Jon
J
Goudie
Andrew
A
Field
Matt
M
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001519:Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012718:Set, Psychology; D055697:Taste Perception; D055815:Young Adult