An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study of Fluctuations in Inhibitory Control and Its Predictive Validity of Alcohol Use

Inhibitory control is associated with reports of alcohol use in cross-sectional and lab-based research. In the current study we investigated inhibitory control using an ecological momentary assessment paradigm to investigate 'in-the-moment' relationships with alcohol consumption and other factors (e.g., location, craving, emotions) in the real-world. We hypothesized that fluctuations in inhibitory control throughout the day would predict alcohol consumption. Heavy drinkers (N = 54: mean age = 24.30, 47 females) were asked to complete a battery of questions and a stop signal task four times per day, at random intervals between 10am and 10 pm for one week. Participants were asked to record their location, craving, emotions and alcohol consumption at each assessment. Inhibitory control was assessed using stop signal task with personalized alcohol- and generic neutral-related cues. Multilevel modeling demonstrated that neutral Stop Signal Reaction Times (OR= 1.05: 95% CI 1.02, 1.08) and frequency of craving (OR = 1.65; 95% CI 1.48, 1.84) predicted subsequent alcohol use occasions. Intensity (B=-0.036; 95% CI -0.059, -0.013) and frequency (B = 0.026; 95% CI 0.002, 0.050) of craving significantly predicted variance in alcohol consumption. Findings do not provide consistent evidence that fluctuations alone in inhibitory control predicts alcohol consumption. Future research should examine the interaction between inhibitory control and craving in the real-world, to better our understanding of the complex relationship.