Effects of alcohol consumption on working memory: single Case study

Abstract

Alcoholism is considered a chronic disease that alters brain functionality in its different processes, one of which is the working memory, associated with the prefrontal cortex specifically at the dorsolateral region. This alteration arises from the interaction of ethanol with certain neurotransmitters mainly the gaba (inhibitor) and glutamate (exciter). It is presumed that alcoholics present not only changes in the brain structure but also important impairments in memory tasks and high rates of cognitive failure. For this reason, this research was aimed at investigating the physical and cognitive difficulties, which can be presented in a subject consuming alcohol, through the application of the subtests of memory of the scale of Weschler and the complex figure of King.
In the results obtained, the scores were lower, however, they managed to be within the population average, which indicates that in the evaluated people there is no significant alteration in their working memory, despite their history of alcohol consumption for over 30 years. This could be explained by studies that demonstrate in alcohol consumers, there is a reorganization of the brain systems necessary to meet the executive demands, using non-specialized parts of the prefrontal cortex, to try to compensate their deficits in cognitive tasks. In addition, a significant deterioration is established in the metamemory, this is understood as the capacity of self-monitoring by the memory itself and its limitations, in this sense alcoholic people tend to overestimate their memory capacities.