title: Neurocognitive, psychological and behavioral correlates of binge drinking and use of alcohol with caffeinated beverages in college-aged adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined event-related potential (ERP), behavioral and psychological correlates of binge drinking and the use of alcohol mixed with caffeinated beverages (AmCBs) in college-aged (18-26 years) adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to delineate the neurocognitive correlates of different patterns of risky alcohol use in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected ERP data while an initial sample of 60 participants completed visual oddball and go/no-go tasks. We also collected self-report data measuring levels of sensation seeking, impulsivity, and drinking-induced disinhibition. In our primary analyses between binge drinker (N = 17) and comparison participants (N = 29), we used analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to control for monthly marijuana usage and excluded participants who reported using other illicit drugs. As separate, exploratory analyses, we compared participants who reported using AmCBs (n = 14) and those who did not (n = 46), co-varying for monthly marijuana and recreational drug use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that binge drinkers and AmCB users reported significantly higher levels of sensation seeking and drinking-induced disinhibition. In addition, we found that binge drinkers exhibited greater P3a/b amplitudes in the oddball task. In contrast, AmCB users exhibited significantly attenuated P3a amplitudes to distracter stimuli in the oddball task. However, we found no statistically significant differences in the amplitudes of P2(00) or N2(00) components between binge drinkers and comparison participants or between AmCB users and nonusers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, these data suggest that binge drinking and AmCB use are associated with P3 alterations, but the specific effects may differ for individuals with different patterns of risky alcohol use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland , OR , USA.
authors.forename: Todd D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Louis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001628:Beverages; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine