Comparison of alcohol impairment of behavioral and attentional inhibition.
BACKGROUND
Despite the wealth of studies demonstrating the impairing effects of alcohol on behavioral inhibition, less is known regarding effects of the drug on attentional inhibition (i.e., the ability to ignore distracting stimuli in the environment in order to focus attention on relevant information). The current study examined alcohol impairment of both behavioral and attentional inhibition, as well as potential associations between the two mechanisms of inhibitory control.


METHODS
Men (n=27) and women (n=21) performed a measure of behavioral inhibition (cued go/no-go task) and a measure of attentional inhibition (delayed ocular return task) following three doses of alcohol: 0.65 g/kg, 0.45 g/kg, and 0.0 g/kg (placebo).


RESULTS
Alcohol impaired both behavioral and attentional inhibition relative to placebo; however, correlational analyses revealed no associations between measures of behavioral and attentional inhibition following any dose. Additionally, men committed more inhibitory failures on the behavioral inhibition task, whereas women committed more inhibitory failures on the attentional inhibition task.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that behavioral and attentional inhibition are equally sensitive to the impairing effects of alcohol, yet represent distinct components of inhibitory control. Additionally, the observed gender differences in control of behavior and attention could have important implications regarding negative consequences associated with alcohol-induced disinhibition in men and women.
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506-0044 , USA.
Jessica
J
Weafer
Mark T
MT
Fillmore
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D001944:Breath Tests; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003463:Cues; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012438:Saccades / Q000187:drug effects; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013998:Time Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol