Perceptual Generalization of Alcohol-Related Value Characterizes Risky Drinkers

Abstract

Generalizing from past experiences to novel situations is critical for adaptive behavior, whereas overgeneralization can promote maladaptive responses (e.g., context-inappropriate fear in anxiety). Here, we propose that overgeneralizing alcohol-related associations characterizes risky drinking. We conducted two online experiments assessing generalization of alcohol-related gains (Study 1) and losses (Study 2) among individuals who engaged in light or risky patterns of drinking (Study 1: N = 88, 24–44 years old; Study 2: N = 87, 21–44 years old). After learning to associate cards with alcohol and non-alcohol-related outcomes, participants chose whether to play with cards varying in perceptual similarity to those shown during conditioning. Finally, participants completed a surprise recognition memory test for all outcomes. Although both groups showed comparable conditioning, we found that risky drinkers overgeneralized alcohol-related gains and losses. Risky drinkers also showed a bias toward recognizing alcohol-related images. These results indicate a novel role for overgeneralization of alcohol-related gains and losses as a mechanism associated with risky drinking.

Integrating and fragmenting memories under stress and alcohol

“…As we have discussed previously, alcohol and stress share physiological correlates as well as mnemonic biases ( Goldfarb and Sinha, 2018 ). We recently showed that heavier drinking is associated with greater generalization of alcohol-related responses to perceptually similar stimuli ( Kang et al, 2023 ), consistent with a long line of evidence that both acute stress ( Dunsmoor et al, 2017 ) and stress-related disorders ( Cooper et al, 2022 ; Lissek et al, 2010 ) are also characterized by greater generalization of fear-related responses to perceptually similar stimuli. Similarly, alcohol intake has been associated with increased incidence of intrusive thoughts (dose-dependently; Bisby et al, 2009 ; Bisby et al, 2010 ) a central symptom of PTSD (DSM V).…”