Abstract
ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate attention, memory functioning, and mood in a natural setting with real‐life alcohol consumption levels.MethodsSeventy‐four participants with a mean (SD) age of 24.5 (7.0) years old participated in a naturalistic study. A between subjects design was applied comparing a hangover group with an (alcohol‐free) control group. Participants in the hangover group consumed a mean (SD) of 13.8 (10.2) alcoholic drinks the night before testing. Cognitive tests included the Stroop test, Eriksen's flanker test, a divided attention test, intradimensional–extradimensional set shifting test, spatial working memory test, and free word recall test.ResultsThe hangover group had increased reaction times compared with the control group. Selective attention (Stroop and Eriksen's Flanker test performance) was significantly impaired during alcohol hangover. However, the number of errors did not differ significantly between the groups in any task. Mood assessments revealed that the hangover group reported significantly higher levels of drowsiness and clumsiness compared with the control group.ConclusionSelective attention was significantly impaired during alcohol hangover. The differences between the hangover and control group did not reach significance for other forms of attention or memory.
Highlights
Our results indicate that response times in both spatial (Eriksen's flanker task) and dimensional (Stroop) selective attention tasks are impaired during alcohol hangover
Higher levels of drowsiness and clumsiness were reported that are illustrative of performance affecting increased levels of fatigue that are commonly experienced during the hangover state (Penning et al, 2012)
Several studies have examined attention and memory functioning during hangover. Most of these studies reported the absence of significant hangover effects on divided attention (Chait & Perry, 1994; Collins & Chiles, 1980; Finnigan, Hammersley, & Cooper, 1998; Lemon, Chesher, Fox, Greeley, & Nabke, 1993; Seppälä, Leino, Linnoila, Huttunen, & YIikahri, 1976)
Summary
As it is important to thoroughly investigate which cognitive functions might be impaired during hangover, and to what extent, the aim of the current study was to investigate memory functioning, several aspects of attention, and mood during alcohol hangover. Our results indicate that response times in both spatial (Eriksen's flanker task) and dimensional (Stroop) selective attention tasks are impaired during alcohol hangover. Studies with divided attention test of longer duration (e.g., 15 min or more) did show significantly more tracking errors in the hangover state (Roehrs, Yoon, & Roth, 1991).
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