title: Executive functioning and alcohol binge drinking in university students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Binge drinking (BD) is prevalent among college students. Studies on alcoholism have shown that the prefrontal cortex is vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol. The prefrontal cortex undergoes both structural and functional changes during adolescence and young adulthood. Sex differences have been observed in brain maturation and in alcohol-induced damage. The objective of the present study was to analyze the relationship between BD and cognitive functions subserved by the prefrontal cortex in male and female university students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 122 undergraduates (aged 18 to 20 years): 62 BD (30 females) and 60 non-BD (29 females). Executive functions were assessed by WMS-III (Backward Digit Span and Backward Spatial Span), SOPT (abstract designs), Letter Fluency (PMR), BADS (Zoo Map and Key Search) and WCST-3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BD students scored lower in the Backward Digit Span Subtest and generated more perseverative responses in the SOPT In relation to interaction BD by sex, BD males scored lower in the Backward Digit Span test than BD females and non-BD males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BD is associated with poorer performance of executive functions subserved by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The results do not support enhanced vulnerability of women to alcohol neurotoxic effects. These difficulties may reflect developmental delay or frontal lobe dysfunction.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. maria.parada@usc.es
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Parada
authors: Montserrat
authors: M
authors: Corral
authors: Nayara
authors: N
authors: Mota
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Crego
authors: Socorro
authors: S
authors: Rodríguez Holguín
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Cadaveira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000506:poisoning*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000431:Ethanol