title: Alcohol expectancy moderates attentional bias for alcohol cues in light drinkers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Theoretical models suggest that attentional bias for alcohol-related cues develops because cues signal the availability of alcohol, and the expectancy elicited by alcohol cues is responsible for the maintenance of attentional bias among regular drinkers. We investigated the moderating role of alcohol expectancy on attentional bias for alcohol-related cues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within-subjects experimental design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychology laboratories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult social drinkers (n=58).
  
  
  METHODS
  On a trial-by-trial basis, participants were informed of the probability (100%, 50%, 0%) that they would receive beer at the end of the trial before their eye movements towards alcohol-related and control cues were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heavy social drinkers showed an attentional bias for alcohol-related cues regardless of alcohol expectancy. However, in light social drinkers, attentional bias was only seen on 100% probability trials, i.e. when alcohol was expected imminently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attentional bias for alcohol-related cues is sensitive to the current expectancy of receiving alcohol in light social drinkers, but it occurs independently of the current level of alcohol expectancy in heavy drinkers.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. mfield@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hogarth
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bleasdale
authors.forename: Phoebe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernie
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christiansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D003463:Cues; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult