# Oscillatory and behavioral indices of cognitive control dysregulation in young adult binge drinkers are influenced by sex differences

## TL;DR

This study shows that binge drinking in young adults affects cognitive and motor control differently in men and women, as revealed by brain wave patterns during a decision-making task.

## Contribution

The study reveals sex-specific neural mechanisms linking binge drinking to impaired cognitive control and decision-making.

## Key findings

- Binge-drinking women showed reduced theta brain activity linked to worse task performance.
- Binge-drinking men exhibited delayed beta brain activity changes associated with impulsivity.
- Cognitive control deficits in binge drinkers varied significantly by biological sex.

## Abstract

Binge drinking, defined as episodic alcohol intake reaching intoxication, is prevalent among young adults and linked to impaired cognitive control and risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Even though executive deficits contribute to addiction, evidence on their alterations in young adult binge drinkers (BDs) as a function of biological sex remains limited. This study examined cognitive and motor aspects of decision making as reflected in event‐related theta and beta oscillations, respectively. The executive neurobehavioral markers were analyzed in conjunction with alcohol‐related and other self‐reported variables and cognitive functions in BDs versus light drinkers (LDs) of both sexes.

Sixty‐eight participants (34 BDs, 34 LDs, 50% women) completed a modified Stroop task. Electroencephalography (EEG) signals were analyzed in the time‐frequency domain with Morlet wavelets. Behavioral performance and event‐related theta (4–7 Hz) and beta (15–25 Hz) power were compared across levels of conflict, drinking groups, and sex.

BDs exhibited longer reaction times on high‐conflict trials, reflecting compensatory slowing during cognitive interference. Lower conflict‐induced theta power in BDs than in LDs was evident primarily among women. It was associated with greater alcohol intake and it mediated the impact of binge drinking on degraded task performance among BD women. In contrast, event‐related beta desynchronization during response preparation was attenuated and delayed only in BD men, which was partially mediated by impulsivity.

The observed links between binge drinking and dysregulated cognitive and motor control processes were interpreted in regard to sex‐specific neural alterations. Weaker engagement of cognitive control in BD women may be reflected in an impaired capacity to optimize decisions in challenging situations. Beta decrease during response preparation was especially attenuated in more impulsive BD men, which may contribute to their inability to refrain from risky behaviors. These findings highlight the need to consider biological sex in alcohol‐related neurocognitive research.

This EEG study examined cognitive and motor aspects of decision making during a modified Stroop task (A) in young adult binge drinkers (BDs) and light drinkers (LDs). Besides compensatory response slowing to Stroop interference (B), BDs showed lower Stroop‐induced theta power, which mediated the impact of BD on degraded task performance in BD women (C), indicative of impaired cognitive control. Conversely, impulsivity partially mediated an attenuated beta decrease during response preparation in BD men (D), suggesting sex‐specific pathways of vulnerability in BDs.