Meta-analysis of acute alcohol effects on response inhibition

Alcohol intoxication impairs response inhibition; however, discrepant findings have been reported regarding the magnitude and moderators of this effect. This meta-analysis of human laboratory studies aimed to quantify acute effects of alcohol on response inhibition and evaluate moderators of this effect. Eligible studies examined alcohol’s effects on response inhibition with the Go/No-Go (GNG) task (n = 1616 participants) or Stop Signal Task (SST) (n = 1310 participants). Results revealed a detrimental effect of acute alcohol on response inhibition overall (g = 0.411, 95 % CI [0.350, 0.471]), with similar effects in studies using GNG (g = 0.431, SE = 0.031) and SST (g = 0.366, SE = 0.063). Effect sizes were larger in studies involving higher breath alcohol concentration levels and under GNG conditions that established a prepotent response set. These findings establish the magnitude, precision, and potential moderators of alcohol’s effects on inhibitory control, furthering understanding of a key neurobehavioral mechanism proposed to underlie alcohol-related impulsivity and impaired control over consumption.