Effects of alcohol on the performance of the Tower of London task in relation to the menstrual cycle: an electroencephalographic study.

It is well known that the metabolism of alcohol and cognitive functions can vary during the menstrual cycle. Also, both alcohol ingestion and hormonal variations during menstruation have been associated with characteristic changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. The aim of the present study was to determine whether EEG activity during the performance of the Tower of London (TOL) task is affected by previous ingestion of alcohol and whether these EEG patterns vary in relation to different phases of the menstrual cycle. For this purpose, female participants consumed a moderate dose of alcohol or placebo during the follicular and early luteal phases of the menstrual cycle and then, 35 min after liquid ingestion, EEG activity was recorded during the performance of TOL. A deleterious effect of alcohol on TOL performance was potentiated in the follicular phase, related to a higher α1 relative power, probably as a result of the low progesterone levels characteristic of this menstrual phase. These data show the feasibility of examining the interaction of alcohol and menstrual cycle phases on cognitive performance by means of EEG recording, and contribute toward a better understanding of the brain mechanisms that underlie the cognitive changes that occur during the menstrual cycle under the effects of alcohol.

Effects of red wine on the electrical activity and functional coupling between prefrontal-parietal cortices in young men.

The effects of low-dose red wine on cortical electroencephalogram (EEG) and the functional coupling between the frontal and parietal cortices during the first minutes after ingestion were studied. In a first experiment, 38 male volunteers participated in a wine/water challenge protocol in which each subject served as his own control. Wine-induced EEG changes appeared immediately after ingestion and continued for 40 min. These changes were characterized by an increase in the absolute power (AP) and relative power (RP) of fast frequencies (alpha1, alpha2, beta1 and beta2), a decrease of low frequencies (delta and theta) and a specific decrease in the degree of coupling between cortices at 20 min after wine ingestion. To determine if EEG changes were produced by the alcohol in the red wine, in a second experiment, 24 male volunteers participated in an independent wine/placebo group protocol. At 20 min post-ingestion, the red wine group showed higher power in the alpha band, lower RP of low frequencies and decreased correlation, as compared to the placebo group. These findings show that low-dose red wine produces a rapid cortical activation and decreased synchronization between the prefrontal and parietal areas, which could be associated with aroused states or altered cognitive processes, as has been described in other studies.

[Effect of alcohol on electrical organisation in the brain during a visuospatial working memory task and its relationship with the menstrual cycle]. / Efecto del alcohol en la organización eléctrica cerebral durante una tarea de memoria de trabajo visuoespacial y su relación con el ciclo menstrual.

INTRODUCTION: The metabolism of alcohol and cognitive functions can vary during the menstrual cycle. Also, both alcohol ingestion and hormonal variations during menstruation have been associated with characteristic changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. AIM. To determine whether EEG activity during a working memory task is affected by acute alcohol consumption, and if these EEG patterns vary in relation to different phases of the menstrual cycle. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 24 women who drank a moderate dose of alcohol or placebo during the follicular and early luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The EEG activity was recorded during performance of viso-spatial working memory task. RESULTS: Although the alcohol did not deteriorate the performance of working memory task, it caused in the EEG a decrease of relative theta power and lower right fronto-parietal correlation in theta and alpha2 bands. Only women who drank alcohol in the follicular phase had a higher relative potency of alpha1, which could indicate a lower level of arousal and attention. CONCLUSIONS: These results contribute to a better understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying cognitive changes with alcohol and its relationship to the menstrual cycle.

TITLE: Efecto del alcohol en la organizacion electrica cerebral durante una tarea de memoria de trabajo visuoespacial y su relacion con el ciclo menstrual.Introduccion. El metabolismo del alcohol y el desempeño de muchas funciones cognitivas pueden variar a lo largo del ciclo menstrual. Tanto la ingestion de alcohol como las variaciones hormonales durante el ciclo menstrual se asocian con cambios caracteristicos en la actividad electroencefalografica. Objetivo. Determinar si la actividad electroencefalografica durante una tarea de memoria de trabajo es afectada por el consumo agudo de alcohol, y si dicha actividad varia en funcion del ciclo menstrual. Sujetos y metodos. Muestra de 24 mujeres que ingirieron alcohol o placebo durante las fases folicular y lutea temprana. Se registro el electroencefalograma durante la ejecucion de una tarea de memoria de trabajo visuoespacial. Resultados. Aunque el alcohol no deterioro el rendimiento de la tarea de memoria de trabajo, si produjo en el electroencefalograma una disminucion de la potencia relativa de theta y una menor correlacion frontoparietal derecha en las bandas theta y alfa2. Unicamente las mujeres alcoholizadas en la fase folicular presentaron una mayor potencia relativa de alfa1, que podria indicar menor nivel de alertamiento y atencion. Conclusiones. Estos resultados contribuyen a una mejor comprension de los mecanismos cerebrales que subyacen a los cambios cognitivos con el alcohol y su relacion con el ciclo menstrual.

Efecto del alcohol en la organización eléctrica cerebral durante una tarea de memoria de trabajo visuoespacial y su relación con el ciclo menstrual / Effect of alcohol on electrical organisation in the brain during a visuospatial working memory task and its relationship with the menstrual cycle

Introducción. El metabolismo del alcohol y el desempeño de muchas funciones cognitivas pueden variar a lo largo del ciclo menstrual. Tanto la ingestión de alcohol como las variaciones hormonales durante el ciclo menstrual se asocian con cambios característicos en la actividad electroencefalográfica. Objetivo. Determinar si la actividad electroencefalográfica durante una tarea de memoria de trabajo es afectada por el consumo agudo de alcohol, y si dicha actividad varía en función del ciclo menstrual. Sujetos y métodos. Muestra de 24 mujeres que ingirieron alcohol o placebo durante las fases folicular y lútea temprana. Se registró el electroencefalograma durante la ejecución de una tarea de memoria de trabajo visuoespacial. Resultados. Aunque el alcohol no deterioró el rendimiento de la tarea de memoria de trabajo, sí produjo en el electroencefalograma una disminución de la potencia relativa de theta y una menor correlación frontoparietal derecha en las bandas theta y alfa2. Únicamente las mujeres alcoholizadas en la fase folicular presentaron una mayor potencia relativa de alfa1, que podría indicar menor nivel de alertamiento y atención. Conclusiones. Estos resultados contribuyen a una mejor comprensión de los mecanismos cerebrales que subyacen a los cambios cognitivos con el alcohol y su relación con el ciclo menstrual (AU)

Introduction. The metabolism of alcohol and cognitive functions can vary during the menstrual cycle. Also, both alcohol ingestion and hormonal variations during menstruation have been associated with characteristic changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Aim. To determine whether EEG activity during a working memory task is affected by acute alcohol consumption, and if these EEG patterns vary in relation to different phases of the menstrual cycle. Subjects and methods. 24 women who drank a moderate dose of alcohol or placebo during the follicular and early luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The EEG activity was recorded during performance of viso-spatial working memory task. Results. Although the alcohol did not deteriorate the performance of working memory task, it caused in the EEG a decrease of relative theta power and lower right fronto-parietal correlation in theta and alpha2 bands. Only women who drank alcohol in the follicular phase had a higher relative potency of alpha1, which could indicate a lower level of arousal and attention. Conclusions. These results contribute to a better understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying cognitive changes with alcohol and its relationship to the menstrual cycle (AU)