Maintaining intentional control of behavior under alcohol

Background: This research used a process dissociation paradigm to measure t he influence of controlled and automatic processes on a word-stem completio n task when correct performance under alcohol was positively reinforced, or had no particular consequence. It was predicted that the impairing effect of alcohol on controlled processes that govern intentional control of behav ior would be resisted when drinkers were reinforced for performing well. Methods: Four groups of eight male drug-free social drinkers initially stud ied a list of words. Two of the groups then received 0.56 g/kg alcohol (A) and two received a placebo (P) before the stem-completion task was performe d. During the task. the correct responses of one pair of A and P groups wer e reinforced (money and verbal approval) whereas no reinforcement was provi ded to the other pair. Results: As predicted, under alcohol, the influence of controlled processes that govern intentional responses was greater when reinforcement was provi ded than when it was absent (p = 0.005). Without reinforcement, controlled processes in the A group were lower than the P control group (p = 0.01). In contrast, the A and P groups that received reinforcement did not differ (p = 0.142). Controlled processes in the P groups were not affected bg reinfo rcement (p = 0.65). In addition, the influence of automatic processes was n ot affected by alcohol or by reinforcement (p > 0.781). Conclusions: Positive reinforcement for behavior under alcohol increases th e influence of controlled processes. These results suggest that the degree to which intentional control is retained under alcohol depends on the conse quence of behavior in the situation. It seems that controlled processes ena ble drinkers to intentionally display the behavior that is rewarded.