Abstract
AbstractContrasting the traditional focus on alcohol‐related visual images, this study examined the impact of both alcohol‐related auditory cues and visual stimuli on inhibitory control (IC). Fifty‐eight participants completed a Go/No‐Go Task, with alcohol‐related and neutral visual stimuli presented with or without short or continuous auditory bar cues. Participants performed worse when presented with alcohol‐related images and auditory cues. Problematic alcohol consumption and higher effortful control (EC) were associated with better IC performance for alcohol images. It is postulated that those with higher EC may be better able to ignore alcohol‐related stimuli, while those with problematic alcohol consumption are unconsciously less attuned to these. This runs contrary to current dogma and highlights the importance of examining both auditory and visual stimuli when investigating IC.
Highlights
Alcohol consumption is one of the top five global risk factors for disease, disability and mortality (World Health Organisation, 2014) and its approximate cost to the UK is £21 billion per annum (Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2015)
Participant characteristics A series of independent t-tests indicated that there were no significant differences between participants’ demographics, and self-reported Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Adult Temperament Questionnaire (ATQ) scores as a function of auditory cue length
When AUDIT and Effortful Control were added as covariates to the standard block analyses, there were no significant main effects
Summary
Alcohol consumption is one of the top five global risk factors for disease, disability and mortality (World Health Organisation, 2014) and its approximate cost to the UK is £21 billion per annum (Health and Social Care Information Centre, 2015). It has been linked with wider socio-cultural problems, including alcohol related crime and reduced productivity, costing the UK over £18 billion per annum (Institute of Alcohol Studies, 2013). This understanding may inform the development of intervention approaches (c.f. Jones et al, 2016), the success of which would have clear and powerful social applications
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