Sex Differences, Cognitive Training & Emotion Processing

This pilot project leverages the team's expertise in neurobehavioral assessment and focus on
sex differences to examine the potential efficacy of cognitive training in treatment-seeking
men and women with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Specifically, the ask whether cognitive
training interventions derived from current methods and conceptual models has differential
benefits for treatment-seeking women vs. men. Although neurocognitive improvement during
training is desired, of practical import is whether gains achieved transfer to other tasks
and settings. Therefore, transfer of gains to tasks/domains varying in their similarity to
training are assessed. Given noted sex differences in emotional processing and the purported
role of emotional factors in women's substance use, training engaging emotional processing
via the use of affective stimuli (faces and words) is included, predicting that women may
differentially benefit from such training. Equal numbers of treatment-seeking men and women
with AUDs will be randomly assigned to one of two active training interventions (neutral or
affective stimuli). To control for abstinence-related recovery, a third group of
participants, meeting identical selection criteria, will complete pre and post-intervention
testing, but will not undergo the training intervention. Ss will complete baseline, 3 wks
training (for active groups) and post-intervention testing and will be contacted monthly for
3 months after discharge.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Minimum of 10 years of education

- Subjects must have 20/40 or better corrected vision (determined by Snellen chart)

- have no significant hearing impairment as determined by self-report and audiometric
testing

- must meet criteria for DSM-IV alcohol dependence using the computerized Diagnostic
Interview Schedule - IV

- A craving index is also administered to allow discussion in terms of DSM 5
classification.

- Comorbid substance use including nicotine use is not exclusionary.

Exclusion Criteria:

- May not have medical or psychiatric histories which would confound participation or
data interpretation, e.g., epilepsy, stroke, untreated hypertension, psychotic
disorders, anxiolytic medications.

- not be color blind (as determined by psuedoisochromatic plates)

- Endorsement of suicidal intent