Working memory in context: The role of alcohol distractors in working memory performance in low to heavy alcohol drinkers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Motivational and cognitive control-related processes both play a role in addiction but are often studied independently. Alcohol-related cues may impair performance in cognitively demanding tasks, particularly in individuals with alcohol use-related problems, where working memory (WM) may be especially affected. This study investigated whether distracting alcohol-related flankers impact WM performance across varying levels of alcohol use severity.

Methods

A total of 310 participants were classified into risk groups based on Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) scores: low (≤7), mid (8-14), and high (≥15). We developed an online N-back flanker task where letters were flanked by alcohol-related or neutral words. Four WM-loads (0-, 1-, 2-, 3-back) were inc

SUBMITTER: Colyer-Patel K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12796562 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature