Alcohol and cognitive control is an important subject. Adolescence is a major period for the development of cognitive control. And most young people begin trying alcohol as they enter adolescence.

Cognitive Control

Cognitive control is the ability to to choose an appropriate behavior over one that you’ve decided is inappropriate. That is, one that is inconsistent with your long-term goals. Think of it as willpower when you’re on a diet. That takes cognitive control.

Adolescence is a time of major decision making. Decisions made during that period can have a lasting influence in later life. They surround education, sexuality, substance use, relationships, and many other areas.

Alcohol and Cognitive Control

Low control predicts later alcohol-related problems. Heavy episodic drinking (so-called “binge drinking”) can impair cognitive control. But does light drinking during adolescence influence control?

Researchers at Technische Universität (Dresden, Germany) investigated the matter. To do so, they made a longitudinal study. That is, a study over time following the same people. They used a community-based sample of 92 adolescents. The researchers tested the young people for cognitive control at ages 14, 16 and 18.

Average alcohol drinking was low. The mean was just under four drinks per week. Cognitive control at age 14 did not predict drinking behavior at age 18.

Between ages 14 and 18, control abilities increased. Yet they increased much more among those adolesents who drank the most alcohol.

The researchers concluded that low levels of alcohol consumption among adolescents did not harm cognitive control abilities. Indeed, adolesents who drank the most alcohol had the best development of control abilities.¹

Resources: Alcohol and Cognitive Control

Footnote

1. 1. Jurk, S. et al. Low-level alcohol consumption during adolescence and its impact on cognitive control. Addict Bio, 23(1), 313-326.

Web

• • Drinking and Cognitive Control.
  • Self-Control is Protective against High Risk Drinking.
  • What is Cognitive Control?

Readings

• • Mischel, W. The Marshmallow Test. Mastering Self-Control.
  • Rachlin, H. The Science of Self-control.
  • Wilcox, C. et al. Cognitive control in alcohol use disorder: deficits and clinical relevance. Rev Neurosci, 25(1), 1-24.

Note

• • This site gives no advice.