Abstract
The aim of the current study was to investigate what impact a state of alcohol hangover (AH) has upon everyday prospective memory (PM; memory for future events/intentions). Previous research has shown that the AH has a detrimental effect upon cognitive abilities, including memory and attentional deficits. No published research articles to date have focused upon what impact AH might have upon everyday memory, of which PM is a good example. The current study compared an AH group (AHG) with a non-hangover group (NHG) on PM. Since other drug use, anxiety and depression can affect PM independent of the AH, these covariates were controlled for in the study. Fifty-eight young adults studying at university participated in this between-subjects design study-25 in the AHG and 33 in the NHG. The Prospective Remembering Video Procedure (PRVP) measured PM. The Acute Hangover Rating Scale confirmed a state of AH and a Digital Breath Analyzer Test measured their BAC. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale gauged levels of anxiety and depression and a Recreational Drug Use Questionnaire (RDUQ) measured alcohol and other drug use. Anyone who reported having used an illicit substance (e.g., cannabis, ecstasy) or who smoked, were excluded from the study. After controlling for age, alcohol units per week, years spent drinking alcohol, anxiety and depression scores, a one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that the AHG (mean = 5.16) recalled significantly fewer items on the PRVP than the NHG (mean = 7.51)—F(1,52) = 5.69, p < 0.05. Overall, it appeared that a state of AH significantly impaired PM, which was not attributable to age, alcohol use, or anxiety or depression indices. Given the importance of PM to everyday activities, such as remembering to keep appointments or to take an important medication on time, this finding may have farther-reaching implications. These findings should also be used to educate young adults and health professionals dealing with the consequences with regards the dangers of alcohol misuse.
Highlights
A univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to the Prospective Remembering Video Procedure (PRVP) scores in order to compare performance on the main PRVP task between the AH group (AHG) and non-hangover group (NHG)
An independent samples t-test revealed significantly more alcohol hangover (AH) symptoms reported in the AHG compared with the NHG (t(56) = 9.14, p < 0.01; 6.88 vs. 1.57 for AHG and NHG respectively)
Significantly greater severity scores reported in the AHG compared with the NHG (t(56) = 14.7, p < 0.01; 3.25 vs. 0.48 for AHG and NHG respectively)
Summary
The alcohol hangover (AH) can be defined as the presence of a combination of both mental and physical symptoms experienced the day after a single episode of heavy drinking (drinking in excess of four alcoholic drinks for women and in excess of five drinks for men), which begin when the blood alcohol concentration approaches zero (van Schrojenstein Lantman et al, 2016).Effect of Alcohol Hangover on Prospective MemoryThese symptoms can last in excess of 24 h and include headache, drowsiness, concentration problems, dry mouth, dizziness, gastro-intestinal complaints, sweating, nausea, hyper-excitability and anxiety (Swift and Davidson, 1998; Wiese et al, 2000).Previous research on the cognitive consequences of the AH have been dogged by methodological limitations, including the introduction of expectancy effects (where the participants’ were aware that hangover-induced cognitive impairments were expected, which may have confounded the results) and the lack of adequate (e.g., non-hangover) comparison groups (see e.g., Stephens et al, 2008; Verster, 2008—for discussion). Effect of Alcohol Hangover on Prospective Memory These symptoms can last in excess of 24 h and include headache, drowsiness, concentration problems, dry mouth, dizziness, gastro-intestinal complaints, sweating, nausea, hyper-excitability and anxiety (Swift and Davidson, 1998; Wiese et al, 2000). Behavioral studies have demonstrated that a state of AH leads to performance deficits such as slower response times and increases in response errors (see, Stephens et al, 2008; Verster, 2008; Ling et al, 2010), as well as working memory deficits (Owen et al, 2013). The AH has been shown to produce deficits in sustained attention and attentional selection (e.g., Rohsenow et al, 2010; McKinney et al, 2012), slower choice reaction times (Grange et al, 2016), reduced short-term recall for digit and visual patterns (Howland et al, 2010), as well as impairments in spatial and numeric working memory and inhibition (Owen et al, 2013)
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