Citation

Assaad JM, Pihl RO, Seguin JR, Nagin D, Vitaro F, Tremblay RE. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 2006; 30(5): 774-782.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, McGill University & Research Unit of Children's Psycho-Social Maladjustment, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00090.x

PMID

16634845

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examined the elevated heart rate (HR) response to alcohol intoxication, thought to reflect an increased sensitivity to alcohol-induced reward, as a potential factor in the increased likelihood of alcohol-induced aggression. METHODS: Three groups, intoxicated high (n=37) and low (n=37) HR responders and sober controls (n=73), participated in a laboratory measure of physical aggression, the Taylor Aggression Paradigm. RESULTS: Results revealed that intoxicated high HR responders were more aggressive than the intoxicated low HR responders and sober controls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are interpreted within a hypothetical model relating increased alcohol-induced aggression to a dysregulation in the motivational system responding to rewards.

Language: en