Intoxicated behavioral disinhibition and the heart rate response to alcohol

Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006 Aug;14(3):377-88. doi: 10.1037/1064-1297.14.3.377.

Abstract

This study examined the association between the heart rate (HR) response to alcohol intoxication, which is thought to reflect sensitivity to alcohol-induced reward and alcohol-induced behavioral disinhibition. High- and low-HR responders to alcohol participated in a go/no-go task, under sober and intoxicated conditions. Errors of commission on this task have previously been related to behavioral disinhibition. High-HR responders made more intoxicated commission errors as compared with low-HR responders. High-HR responders also reported increased alcohol consumption, and controlling for the latter did not alter the significant association between high-HR responders and increased intoxicated errors of commission. These results are consistent with previous findings of an increased risk for addictive and disinhibited behavioral propensities in individuals with a high-HR response to alcohol intoxication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcoholic Intoxication / physiopathology*
  • Alcoholic Intoxication / psychology
  • Behavior / drug effects*
  • Ethanol / pharmacology*
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Quebec

Substances

  • Ethanol