Impulsivity and Alcohol Response

Impulsivity, a well-known risk factor predicting negative outcomes, refers broadly to a proclivity towards rapid action with a suboptimal regard for future consequences. Importantly, impulsivity is a multidimensional construct incorporating generalized and behavioral facets. However, underlying mechanisms linking facets of impulsivity to high-risk drinking remain uncertain. Such mechanisms, if uncovered, may be more appropriate intervention targets than impulsivity directly. Similar to impulsivity, subjective response to alcohol (SR), or individual differences in sensitivity to the pharmacologic effects of alcohol, is an established risk factor for alcohol use disorder. Specifically, experiencing heightened rewarding stimulation and dampened aversive sedation from alcohol are related to high-risk drinking. Theory and recent findings indicate SR and impulsivity may be related, suggesting SR may be a mechanism linking facets of impulsivity to high-risk drinking. However, findings linking impulsivity to SR were all from secondary data analyses and most studies reported on only a single measure of impulsivity. For these reasons, an original data collection using laboratory alcohol administration methods is needed to address which facets of impulsivity are related to SR among young adult drinkers and whether these effects manifest while blood alcohol concentrations are increasing or declining. This study will utilize a laboratory alcohol administration design to investigate whether distinct facets of impulsivity (i.e., generalized, choice, response) are related to subjective responses (i.e., stimulation and sedation) following alcohol administration.