Risk factors for alcohol misuse: Examining heart rate reactivity to alcohol, alcohol sensitivity, and personality constructs

Abstract

Objective Heart rate reactivity to alcohol has been conceptualized as an index of alcohol-induced reward and has been associated with a sensation seeking personality profile. The goal of this study is to expand on previous findings regarding the significance of heart rate reactivity to alcohol while examining convergent lines of research on alcohol sensitivity, the rewarding effects of alcohol, and personality constructs. Methods Participants ( N = 47) were heavy drinkers who completed an intravenous alcohol challenge protocol. Results Analyses revealed a significant negative relationship between heart rate reactivity and alcohol-induced sedation and subjective intoxication. Heart rate reactivity was positively related to self-reported alcohol-induced vigor and to impulsivity and sensation seeking scores. Conclusions Taken together, these results suggest that individuals with heightened heart rate reactivity to alcohol appear to be more sensitive to the invigorating properties of alcohol, while being less sensitive to the sedative and unpleasant effects of alcohol intoxication. These findings have implications to the conceptualization of heart rate reactivity to alcohol as a biobehavioral marker of alcohol sensitivity.