Executive cognitive function and heavy drinking behavior among college students

Executive cognitive functions (ECFs) seem important for motivating change a nd self-regulation of problem drinking. Evidence for executive cognitive de ficits have been found among heavy-drinking college students. Although coll ege students who abuse alcohol often experience a variety of negative conse quences related to their drinking behavior, executive cognitive dysfunction may interfere with recognizing consequences and responding skillfully to a void future harm. Fifty college students with drinking problems completed a ssessments of ECFs. Greater negative drinking consequences and short-term m emory function significantly predicted greater awareness of drinking proble ms. ECF may be an important factor for motivation to change drinking behavi or among college students.