title: Blood alcohol concentration is negatively associated with gambling money won on the Iowa gambling task in naturalistic settings after controlling for trait impulsivity and alcohol tolerance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute alcohol intoxication has been found to increase perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, a well known neuropsychological index of prefrontal cortical functioning, in both laboratory and naturalistic settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study examined the relationship between levels of alcohol consumption at campus drinking venues and performance of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), another neuropsychological test designed to assess prefrontal cortex dysfunction, after controlling for potential confounding variables including habitual alcohol intake (as a proxy for alcohol tolerance), trait impulsivity, and everyday executive functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 49 participants of both genders aged 18 to 30years were recruited at the relevant venues and showed a broad range of blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) from virtually zero (.002%) to .19%. After controlling for demographic variables, habitual use of alcohol and illicit drugs, and frontal lobe related behavioural traits including impulsivity and disinhibition, BAC negatively predicted gambling money won on the last two trial blocks of the IGT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trait impulsivity and habitual alcohol use were also significant predictors. Results are discussed in terms of acute effects of alcohol on brain systems and the behavioural consequences of such effects on decision making.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld 4229, Australia. Electronic address: mlyvers@bond.edu.au.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lyvers
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld 4229, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mathieson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld 4229, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003463:Cues; D003657:Decision Making / Q000187:drug effects*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000097:blood / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; Decision-making; Frontal lobe; Impulsivity; Risk-taking