title: Effects of alcohol intake on time-based event expectations.
abstract: Previous evidence suggests that alcohol affects various forms of temporal cognition. However, there are presently no studies investigating whether and how alcohol affects on time-based event expectations. Here, we investigated the effects of alcohol on time-based event expectations. Seventeen healthy volunteers, aged between 19 and 36 years, participated. We employed a variable foreperiod paradigm with temporally predictable events, mimicking a computer game. Error rate and reaction time were analyzed in placebo (0 g/kg), low dose (0.2 g/kg) and high dose (0.6 g/kg) conditions. We found that alcohol intake did not eliminate, but substantially reduced, the formation of time-based expectancy. This effect was stronger for high doses, than for low doses, of alcohol. As a result of our studies, we have evidence that alcohol intake impairs time-based event expectations. The mechanism by which the level of alcohol impairs time-based event expectations needs to be clarified by future research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neurosciences, Agricultural University of Georgia, 250 David Aghmashenebeli Allay, 0159, Tbilisi, Georgia. m.kunchulia@agruni.edu.ge.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3959-7265
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunchulia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomaschke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011897:Random Allocation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013998:Time Perception / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcohol; Associative learning; Attentional control; Time-based expectancy; Timing