title: Reflection impulsivity in binge drinking: behavioural and volumetric correlates.
abstract: The degree to which an individual accumulates evidence prior to making a decision, also known as reflection impulsivity, can be affected in psychiatric disorders. Here, we study decisional impulsivity in binge drinkers, a group at elevated risk for developing alcohol use disorders, comparing two tasks assessing reflection impulsivity and a delay discounting task, hypothesizing impairments in both subtypes of impulsivity. We also assess volumetric correlates of reflection impulsivity focusing on regions previously implicated in functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. Sixty binge drinkers and healthy volunteers were tested using two different information-gathering paradigms: the beads task and the Information Sampling Task (IST). The beads task was analysed using a behavioural approach and a Bayesian model of decision making. Delay discounting was assessed using the Monetary Choice Questionnaire. Regression analyses of primary outcomes were conducted with voxel-based morphometry analyses. Binge drinkers sought less evidence prior to decision in the beads task compared with healthy volunteers in both the behavioural and computational modelling analysis. There were no group differences in the IST or delay discounting task. Greater impulsivity as indexed by lower evidence accumulation in the beads task was associated with smaller dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior parietal volumes. In contrast, greater impulsivity as indexed by lower evidence accumulation in the IST was associated with greater dorsal cingulate and precuneus volumes. Binge drinking is characterized by impaired reflection impulsivity suggesting a deficit in deciding on the basis of future outcomes that are more difficult to represent. These findings emphasize the role of possible therapeutic interventions targeting decision-making deficits.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK.|PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal.|Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Banca
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors: Iris
authors: I
authors: Lange
authors: Behavioural and Clinical Neurosciences Institute, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors: Yulia
authors: Y
authors: Worbe
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors: Nicholas A
authors: NA
authors: Howell
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Irvine
authors: Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, UK.
authors: Neil A
authors: NA
authors: Harrison
authors: The Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Moutoussis
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK.|Behavioural and Clinical Neurosciences Institute, University of Cambridge, UK.|Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors: Valerie
authors: V
authors: Voon
mesh_terms: D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D065786:Delay Discounting / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Binge drinking; decision making; reflection impulsivity; voxel-based morphometry