Does a state of alcohol hangover impair event based prospective memory

Introduction The alcohol hangover state (AHS) is characterized by range of symptoms (e.g., drowsiness, fatigue, gastro-intestinal problems, dry mouth, nausea, sweating) that remain after ones blood-alcohol level returns to zero following a recent bout of excessive drinking. Recent findings have revealed a range of cognitive deficits associated with an AHS, including memory deficits. It is less clear what impact the AHS has upon everyday remembering; of which prospective memory is an excellent example (PM: memory for future plans/actions; such as remembering to perform a task at a specific time). Aims The present study explored whether the AHS impairs everyday PM. Methods Twenty-one AHS participants were compared with 28 non-AHS controls using a between-groups design. All completed a prospective remembering video procedure (prvp), which measured event-based pm. the prvp required the participant first to memorise a series of specific action-locations combinations and then to recall these combinations whilst viewing a CD clip of a busy shopping high street. Drug use (alcohol, smoking, etc.) and mood (anxiety and depression) were also measured, as these have been shown to have a deleterious impact upon PM. Results The AHS group recalled significantly fewer event-based PM combinations on the PRVP compared with the non-AHS control group ( P Conclusion These results confirm that a state of alcohol hangover impedes everyday prospective memory. The wider implications will be discussed at conference.