@article{ObstSchadHuysetal.2018,
  author    = {Obst, Elisabeth and Schad, Daniel and Huys, Quentin J. M. and Sebold, Miriam Hannah and Nebe, Stephan and Sommer, Christian and Smolka, Michael N. and Zimmermann, Ulrich S.},
  title     = {Drunk decisions},
  series = {Journal of Psychopharmacology},
  volume    = {32},
  journal   = {Journal of Psychopharmacology},
  number    = {8},
  publisher = {Sage Publ.},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {0269-8811},
  doi       = {10.1177/0269881118772454},
  pages     = {855 -- 866},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Background: Studies in humans and animals suggest a shift from goal-directed to habitual decision-making in addiction. We therefore tested whether acute alcohol administration reduces goal-directed and promotes habitual decision-making, and whether these effects are moderated by self-reported drinking problems. Methods: Fifty-three socially drinking males completed the two-step task in a randomised crossover design while receiving an intravenous infusion of ethanol (blood alcohol level=80 mg\%), or placebo. To minimise potential bias by long-standing heavy drinking and subsequent neuropsychological impairment, we tested 18- to 19-year-old adolescents. Results: Alcohol administration consistently reduced habitual, model-free decisions, while its effects on goal-directed, model-based behaviour varied as a function of drinking problems measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. While adolescents with low risk for drinking problems (scoring <8) exhibited an alcohol-induced numerical reduction in goal-directed choices, intermediate-risk drinkers showed a shift away from habitual towards goal-directed decision-making, such that alcohol possibly even improved their performance. Conclusions: We assume that alcohol disrupted basic cognitive functions underlying habitual and goal-directed decisions in low-risk drinkers, thereby enhancing hasty choices. Further, we speculate that intermediate-risk drinkers benefited from alcohol as a negative reinforcer that reduced unpleasant emotional states, possibly displaying a novel risk factor for drinking in adolescence.},
  language  = {en}
}