Impulsivity, Executive Cognition and Reward Sensitivity in Relation to Excessive or Problematic Alcohol Consumption

Background: Deficits of frontal lobe functioning and associated cognitive impairments are well known correlates of chronic alcoholism and are commonly interpreted as reflecting cumulative effects of high alcohol exposure (Lyvers, 2000). Alternatively, such associations may reflect traits predating alcohol exposure which predispose to risky drinking. For example, university students have a higher prevalence of alcohol use as well as risky drinking than do non-students of the same age, yet not all students drink at risky levels, suggesting tha