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The effects of binge drinking on college students' next‐day academic test‐taking performance and mood state
Author(s) -
Howland Jonathan,
Rohsenow Damaris J.,
Greece Jacey A.,
Littlefield Caroline A.,
Almeida Alissa,
Heeren Timothy,
Winter Michael,
Bliss Caleb A.,
Hunt Sarah,
Hermos John
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02880.x
Subject(s) - mood , neurocognitive , binge drinking , psychology , affect (linguistics) , vigilance (psychology) , test (biology) , placebo , clinical psychology , morning , poison control , medicine , psychiatry , injury prevention , cognition , medical emergency , paleontology , alternative medicine , communication , pathology , neuroscience , biology
Aim To assess the effects of binge drinking on students' next‐day academic test‐taking performance. Design A placebo‐controlled cross‐over design with randomly assigned order of conditions. Participants were randomized to either alcoholic beverage [mean = 0.12 g% breath alcohol concentration (BrAC)] or placebo on the first night and then received the other beverage a week later. The next day, participants were assessed on test‐taking, neurocognitive performance and mood state. Participants A total of 196 college students (≥21 years) recruited from greater Boston. Setting The trial was conducted at the General Clinical Research Center at the Boston Medical Center. Measurements The Graduate Record Examinations© (GREs) and a quiz on a lecture presented the previous day measured test‐taking performance; the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES3) and the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) measured neurocognitive performance; and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) measured mood. Findings Test‐taking performance was not affected on the morning after alcohol administration, but mood state and attention/reaction‐time were affected. Conclusion Drinking to a level of 0.12 g% BrAC does not affect next‐day test‐taking performance, but does affect some neurocognitive measures and mood state.