Cianan Hensley | 2026 I.S. Symposium
Name: Cianan Hensley
°Õ¾±³Ù±ô±ð:ÌýThe Effects of Binge Drinking on Memory and Attention
Major: Neuroscience
Advisor: Grit Herzmann
High and consistent levels of alcohol consumption, also known as binge-drinking, have been linked to numerous cognitive deficits according to past research. These cognitive deficits are primarily seen in multiple forms of memory and executive function, which can impact daily life. While many studies have been conducted globally on college-age student populations, not many studies have been done using college students from the United States to measure the effects of binge-drinking on these cognitive abilities. The hypothesis was that binge-drinking behaviors, classified according to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test’s (AUDIT) spectrum of non-binge-drinking versus binge drinking behaviors, binge-drinkers would perform worse on tasks involving memory and executive function. The methods used in this study  followed previous literature and included the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task (RAVLT), Trail Making Test (TMT), Digit Span Test (DST), Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT), and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT). Participants underwent these tests before being asked to fill out the AUDIT and optional questions about family history with Alcohol Use Disorder, social pressures, age exposure, and alcohol intolerance. There were 16 participants, with nine being classified as non-binge-drinking,  four as at-risk, and three as binge-drinking.  Overall, the results found were not significant, but there were trends in the RAVLT and ROCFT that revealed potential deficits in recall and inhibition in binge-drinkers. Future studies can take multiple directions, such as including participants from the far end of the AUDIT spectrum, using campuses with a strong bar culture, and longitudinal studies.
Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.
