Alcohol related mental imagery: The effects of a priming dose in at risk drinkers

Abstract

ObjectivesDrug related mental imagery is proposed to play a central role in addictive behaviour. However, little is known about such cognition or how it is pharmacologically modulated. Here, we test theoretical predictions of the ‘elaborated intrusion’ theory by comparing neutral with alcohol related mental imagery, and examine the effects of low dose alcohol on phenomenological aspects of this imagery.MethodsAlcohol related and neutral imagery was assessed after at risk drinkers (n = 40) consumed alcohol (0.3 g/kg) or placebo, in a crossover design. Sensory and visuospatial qualities of imagery, along with associated craving, positive affect and ‘mind wandering’ were assessed.ResultsAlcohol related mental imagery was rated as more vivid and sensorially rich, effects that were larger following the priming dose of alcohol. In addition, mind wandering was substantially lower during alcohol versus neutral imagery, especially after alcohol consumption. First person perspective was more prevalent for alcohol imagery after alcohol, although the Drink × Imagery type interaction did not reach statistical significance. However, first person imagery was associated with higher levels of craving during alcohol related imagery.ConclusionsAlcohol related mental imagery differs phenomenologically from neutral imagery on a number of dimensions. Priming with alcohol may enable cognitive elaboration by biasing the output of controlled cognitive processing towards enhanced sensory elaboration and increased attention to alcohol related cognition. These feedforward effects may be involved in focusing cognitive and behavioural resources on alcohol acquisition/consumption through the elaboration and rehearsal of relevant goals and plans.

The Impact of Cue-Elicited Multisensory Imagery on Alcohol Craving: A Randomised Controlled Trial

“…An unequal allocation ratio was employed since effect sizes were anticipated to be smaller for the comparison of the multisensory and mental imagery conditions, compared to the comparison for the multisensory imagery and neutral conditions. Specifically, basing effect sizes on a review of existing studies [16, 20], a target sample size of 140 per group allows for 80% power to detect an effect size of d = 0.34, and sample sizes of 140 and sample sizes of 50 per group to detect an effect size of d = 0.47. Target sample sizes were inflated to account for attrition.…”

“…Vividness scale was adapted from Yates and Kamboj [16], and it is a Likert scale (1-10) measuring individual differences in the vividness of imagery. Vividness related to "crispness, clarity, and sense of realness of the imagery," and participants were asked to rate it on a 1 = not at all to 10 = extremely scale.…”

“…Consistent with the EI theory, multisensory imagery is a strong trigger for craving. In the literature, research on cue-elicited alcohol-related imagery is only supported by a few self-reported observational studies or laboratory research in non-clinical samples [16, 17]. There is a gap in the literature examining the role of cue-elicited multisensory imagery on alcohol craving experimentally among individuals who have hazardous alcohol consumption.…”

“…Meanwhile, mental imageryalso known as visual imageryis a form of sensory imagination consisting of subjective experiences commonly described as similar to perception in the absence of external stimuli [15]. According to the literature, when people crave, they have vivid images of the desired substance [13,[16][17][18], and more vivid and realistic imageries reveal greater pleasure [19]. Moreover, for alcohol, taste imagery predicted the consumption of four or more drinks in a single session, while smell imagery predicted the consumption of the maximum number of drinks [17].…”

Mental Imagery Skills in Alcohol-Dependent Subjects and Their Associations With Cognitive Performance: An Exploratory Study During Residential Rehabilitation

“…Finally, a growing body of scientific literature highlights its effectiveness in enhancing motor and cognitive aspects of performance in a variety of subjects: athletes and people with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease (22,(27)(28)(29). To the best of our knowledge, very few studies (30) explored MI among AUD subjects. The rationale of the research was to evaluate the performance in the skills of MI in this study population and its relationships with the other cognitive abilities.…”