scholarly journals Acute alcohol does not impair attentional inhibition as measured with Stroop interference scores but impairs Stroop performance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Riedel ◽  
M. Wolff ◽  
M. Spreer ◽  
J. Petzold ◽  
M. H. Plawecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stroop Task ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Stroop Interference ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Attentional Inhibition ◽  
Interference Score

Abstract Rationale Inhibition is a core executive function and refers to the ability to deliberately suppress attention, behavior, thoughts, and/or emotions and instead act in a specific manner. While acute alcohol exposure has been shown to impair response inhibition in the stop-signal and Go/NoGo tasks, reported alcohol effects on attentional inhibition in the Stroop task are inconsistent. Notably, studies have operationalized attentional inhibition variably and there has been intra- and inter-individual variability in alcohol exposure. Objective This study aimed to examine the acute effects of alcohol on attentional inhibition, considering previous limitations. Methods In a single-blind, cross-over design, 40 non-dependent participants with a medium-to-high risk drinking behavior performed a Counting Stroop task (CST) under a baseline and an arterial blood alcohol concentration (aBAC) clamp at 80 mg%. Attentional inhibition was assessed as the alteration of reaction times (RT), error rates (ER), and inverse efficiency scores (IES) between incongruent and congruent trials (interference score). Stroop performance was also assessed regardless of trial-type. Results Compared to saline, acute alcohol exposure via an aBAC clamp did not affect CST interference scores but increased RTs and IES in both incongruent and congruent trials. Conclusions Attentional inhibition (Stroop interference score) was not impaired by clamped moderate alcohol exposure. Acute alcohol impaired Stroop performance evidenced by a general increase in response times. Our findings suggest that response and attentional inhibition do not share the same neurocognitive mechanisms and are affected differently by alcohol. Results could also be explained by automated behaviors known to be relatively unaffected by acute alcohol.

scholarly journals Case management reduces drinking during pregnancy among high-risk women

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip A. May ◽  
Anna-Susan Marais ◽  
J. Phillip Gossage ◽  
Ronel Barnard ◽  
Belinda Joubert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Case Management ◽  
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Case Managers ◽  
High Risk Women ◽  
Multiple Variables

May, P., Marais, A., Gossage, J., Barnard, R., Joubert, B., Cloete, M., Hendricks, N., Roux, S., Blom, A., Steenekamp, J., Alexander, T., Andreas, R., Human, S., Snell, C., Seedat, S., Parry, C., Kalberg, W., Buckley, D., & Blankenship, J. (2013). Case management reduces drinking during pregnancy among high-risk women. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 2(3), 61-70. doi:10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.79 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v2i3.79)Aim: To estimate the efficacy of Case Management (CM) for women at high risk for bearing a child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).Design: Women were recruited from antenatal clinics and engaged in 18 months of CM.Setting: A South African community with a subculture of heavy, regular, weekend, recreational drinking and with high documented rates of FASD. Participants: Forty-one women who were at high risk for bearing a child with FASD.Measures: Statistical analysis of trends in drinking and other risk factors.Findings: At intake, 87.8% of the women were pregnant, most had previous alcohol-exposed pregnancies, 67.5% reported that most or all of their friends drank alcohol, and 50.0% had stressful lives. CM was particularly valuable for pregnant women, as statistically significant reductions in alcohol risk were obtained for them in multiple variables: total drinks on weekends after six months of CM (p = .026) and estimated peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at six (p < .001) and 18 months (p < .001). For participants completing 18 months of CM, AUDIT scores improved significantly by 6-month follow-up (from 19.8 to 9.7, p = .000), and although there were increases at 12 and 18 months, AUDIT scores indicate that problematic drinking remained statistically significantly lower than baseline throughout CM.  Happiness scale scores correlated significantly with reduced drinking in most time periods.Conclusions: Making an enduring change in drinking behavior is difficult in this social setting. Nonetheless, CM provided by skilled and empathic case managers reduced maternal drinking at critical times, and, therefore, alcohol exposure levels to the fetus.

Impulsivity and Conflict in the Stroop Task

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marieke M. Lansbergen ◽  
Erika van Hell ◽  
J. Leon Kenemans
Keyword(s):  
Stroop Task ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Stroop Interference ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Impulsive Behavior ◽  
Interference Control ◽  
Conflict Processing ◽  
Enhanced Sensitivity ◽  
Brain Correlates

Abstract. It has been suggested that impulsive behavior can be attributed to weaker interference control. The present research used a Stroop task to test whether impulsivity within the normal population is associated with weaker interference control. Sixteen high- and 16 low-impulsive healthy volunteers performed a Stroop task, which varied in the proportion of incongruent trials to induce high conflict and provoke more impulsive behavior. Event-related brain potentials (ERP) were recorded to assess the brain correlates of Stroop interference (N/P450 and SP [sustained potential]), which have been suggested to reflect conflict processing and attentional control, respectively. Higher conflict resulted in more Stroop interference and enhanced N/P450 and SP. Source analyses indicated that the neural generators of the N/P450 and the SP may both be located near the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), suggesting that both may reflect aspects of conflict processing. Differences in Stroop interference in terms of error rates, but not in terms of reaction time were found between high and low impulsives. This result may reflect enhanced sensitivity to the surprise value of unexpected stimulus categories, rather than enhanced interference. High impulsive participants did not differ from low impulsive participants with respect to the N/P450, but the SP seemed to originate from a more posterior and right-sided cortical network in high impulsive relative to low impulsive participants. In conclusion, high impulsiveness within the normal population as assessed by an impulsivity questionnaire is not associated with relatively early processes during response inhibition, but the present results may suggest an association between impulsiveness and further, more complex conflict processing.

scholarly journals Moderate episodic prenatal alcohol does not impact female offspring fertility in rats

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K McReight ◽  
Seng H Liew ◽  
Sarah E Steane ◽  
Karla J Hutt ◽  
Karen M Moritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Reproductive Hormones ◽  
Exposure Model ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol

AbstractPrenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been associated with reproductive dysfunction in offspring. However, studies in females, particularly examining long-term infertility or impacts on ovarian reserve, are lacking. The current study utilised a moderate, episodic exposure model in rats to mimic ‘special occasion’ drinking, which is reported to be common during pregnancy. Our objective was to examine the consequences of this prenatal alcohol exposure on reproductive parameters in female offspring. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were treated with either an ethanol gavage (1g EtOH/kg body weight), or an equivalent volume of saline, on embryonic days 13.5 and 14.5 of pregnancy, resulting in a peak blood alcohol concentration of ∼0.04%. Neonatal female offspring were examined for molecular markers regulating early follicle numbers in the ovary and unbiased stereology used to quantify primordial and early growing follicle numbers. Puberty onset (age at vaginal opening and first estrous) was measured post-weaning and estrous cycles, reproductive hormones (progesterone and estradiol) and pregnancy success measured in adults (5-6 months of age). We found no evidence that any of these reproductive parameters were significantly altered by PAE in this model. This animal study provides some reassurance for women who may have consumed a small amount of alcohol during their pregnancy. However, previously published effects on offspring metabolism using this model reinforce avoidance of alcohol during pregnancy.

scholarly journals The Effect of Ethanol on Human Brain Metabolites Longitudinally Characterized by Proton MR Spectroscopy

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 891-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Biller ◽  
Andreas J Bartsch ◽  
György Homola ◽  
Làszló Solymosi ◽  
Martin Bendszus
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Ethanol Administration ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Glucose Levels ◽  
Over Time

The effect ethanol exerts on the human brain has not yet been addressed by longitudinal magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic experiments. Therefore, we longitudinally characterized cerebral metabolite changes in 15 healthy individuals by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) subsequent to the ingestion of a standard beverage (mean peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC): 51.43 ± 10.27 mg/dL). Each participant was examined before, over 93.71 ± 11.17 mins immediately after and 726.36 ± 94.96 mins (12.11 ± 1.58 h) past per os alcohol exposure. Fronto-mesial and cerebellar ethanol concentrations over time were similar as determined by the LCModel analysis of spectral data. Alcohol-induced changes of fronto-mesial creatine, choline, glucose, inositol and aspartate levels for 5.79 ± 2.94 mins upon ingestion as well as cerebellar choline and inositol levels for 8.64 ± 2.98 mins past exposure. Closely associated with ethanol concentrations, supratentorial creatine, choline, inositol and aspartate levels decreased after ethanol administration, whereas glucose levels increased. Similarly, infratentorial choline and inositol concentrations were negatively correlated with ethanol levels over time. There were no changes in N-acetyl-aspartate levels upon alcohol exposure. Furthermore, no influence of ethanol on brain water integrals was detected. Ethanol consumption may directly increase oxidative stress and the neuronal vulnerability to it. In addition, our results are compatible with ethanol-induced cell membrane modifications and alternative energy substrate usage upon alcohol exposure.

scholarly journals Moderate episodic prenatal alcohol does not impact female offspring fertility in rats

Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 159 (5) ◽  
pp. 615-626
Author(s):  
Elizabeth K McReight ◽  
Seng H Liew ◽  
Sarah E Steane ◽  
Karla J Hutt ◽  
Karen M Moritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Reproductive Hormones ◽  
Exposure Model ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Prenatal Alcohol

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) has been associated with reproductive dysfunction in offspring. However, studies in females, particularly examining long-term infertility or impacts on ovarian reserve, are lacking. The current study utilised a moderate, episodic exposure model in rats to mimic ‘special occasion’ drinking, which is reported to be common during pregnancy. Our objective was to examine the consequences of this prenatal alcohol exposure on reproductive parameters in female offspring. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were treated with either an ethanol gavage (1 g EtOH/kg body weight), or an equivalent volume of saline, on embryonic days 13.5 and 14.5 of pregnancy, resulting in a peak blood alcohol concentration of ~0.04%. Neonatal female offspring were examined for molecular markers regulating early follicle numbers in the ovary, and unbiased stereology was used to quantify primordial and early growing follicle numbers. Puberty onset (age at vaginal opening and first estrous) was measured post-weaning, and estrous cycles, reproductive hormones (progesterone and estradiol) and pregnancy success was measured in adults (5–6 months of age). We found no evidence that any of these reproductive parameters were significantly altered by PAE in this model. This animal study provides some reassurance for women who may have consumed a small amount of alcohol during their pregnancy. However, previously published effects on offspring metabolism using this model reinforce avoidance of alcohol during pregnancy.

The Importance of Alcohol Testing by Gas Chromatography vs the Cordebard Classical Method Modified in the Medico Legal Investigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2407-2410
Author(s):  
Dan Perju Dumbrava ◽  
Carmen Corina Radu ◽  
Sofia David ◽  
Tatiana Iov ◽  
Catalin Jan Iov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Chromatographic Method ◽  
Classical Method ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Technical Details ◽  
Gas Chromatographic Method ◽  
Alcohol Testing ◽  
Living Person

Considering the growing number of requests from the criminal investigations authorities addressed to the institutions of legal medicine, testing of blood alcohol concentration both in the living person and in the corpse, we believe that a presentation of the two methods which are used in our country, is a topic of interest at present. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with the technical details on how blodd alcohol concentration is realised by means of the gas chromatographic method and the classical one, (Cordebard modified by D. Banciu and I. Droc) respectively. Another purpose of this article is to also show, in a comparative way, the elements that make the gas chromatographic method superior to the former one.

A Driving Simulator Study of the Performance Effects of Low Blood Alcohol Concentration

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (18) ◽  
pp. 943-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wade Allen ◽  
Zareh Parseghian ◽  
Anthony C. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Divided Attention ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Performance Effects ◽  
Driving Task ◽  
Simulator Study ◽  
And Performance

There is a large body of research that documents the impairing effect of alcohol on driving behavior and performance. Some of the most significant alcohol influence seems to occur in divided attention situations when the driver must simultaneously attend to several aspects of the driving task. This paper describes a driving simulator study of the effect of a low alcohol dose, .055 BAC (blood alcohol concentration %/wt), on divided attention performance. The simulation was mechanized on a PC and presented visual and auditory feedback in a truck cab surround. Subjects were required to control speed and steering on a rural two lane road while attending to a peripheral secondary task. The subject population was composed of 33 heavy equipment operators who were tested during both placebo and drinking sessions. Multivariate Analysis of Variance showed a significant and practical alcohol effect on a range of variables in the divided attention driving task.

4. Are a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 256mg/dl and Minimal Signs of Impairment Reliable Indications of Alcohol Dependence?

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
A W Jones
Keyword(s):  
Expert Witness ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Drunk Driving ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Driving Under The Influence ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Lower Court ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Court Of Appeals ◽  
Driving Scenario

This article describes a drink-driving scenario where a woman was apprehended for driving under the influence (DUI) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 256mg/dl1 The correctness of this result was vigorously challenged by a medical expert witness for the defence, who was actually a specialist in alcohol diseases. Despite reanalysis to confirm the BAC as well as a DNA profile to prove the identity of the blood specimen, the woman was acquitted of the charge of drunk driving by the lower court. However, she was subsequently found guilty in the High Court of Appeals with a unanimous decision and sentenced to four weeks imprisonment. This case report illustrates some of the problems surrounding the use of expert medical evidence by the defence to challenge the validity of the prosecution evidence based solely on a suspect's BAC. In situations such as these, an expert witness should be called by the prosecution to clarify and, if necessary, rebut medical and/or scientific opinions that might mislead the court and influence the outcome of the trial.

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