The day after binge drinking: Electrophysiological correlates of attention and working memory processing the day after hazardous alcohol intake

Binge drinking is a prevalent pattern of alcohol consumption among young adults, with significant cognitive and neural implications. While its long-term effects on executive function and memory have been widely studied, less is known about the short-term consequences of the hangover state. A study investigated the impact of binge drinking and alcohol hangover on working memory and attention. Fifty-two university students (24 Binge drinkers; 28 control) participated in an EEG-based continuous performance task (CPT). Binge drinking participants were assessed on a non-drinking day and during hangover state, while controls completed a single assessment. The P3 and late positive component (LPC) event-related potentials were analysed to examine attentional and memory-related process

While no significant behavioural differences were observed, neurophysiological analyses revealed altered cognitive processing associated with both the long-term consequences of binge drinking behaviour and its short-term effects (i.e., during the hangover state). Specifically, during hangover, BDs P3 and LPC amplitudes were significantly reduced in both conditions, indicating impairments in attentional resource allocation and memory processing. In contrast, Binge drinkers exhibited larger LPC amplitudes for both conditions on a non-drinking day than controls, suggesting the engagement of compensatory neural mechanisms. Additionally, in the hangover state, reduced P3 correlated with increased alcohol craving, while lower LPC amplitudes in hangover state were associated with greater alcohol intake during a binge drinking episode in the preceding day. These findings highlight acute neurocognitive disruptions during hangover and give emphasis to the concerning cumulative impact of repeated binge drinking episodes long-term.
Source: R. Rodrigues, E. López-Caneda, N. Almeida-Antunes, A. Sampaio, A. Crego, The day after binge: Electrophysiological correlates of attention and working memory processing the day after hazardous alcohol intake, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Volume 276, 2025, 112878, ISSN 0376-8716. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112878