Alcohol-related traffic fatality and injury continue to be a major public health problem, prompting the need for research aimed at identifying characteristics of DUI drivers in efforts to improve treatment and prevention. Although DUI offenders report traits of impulsivity, suggesting poor inhibitory control and heightened reward sensitivity, the specific cognitive characteristics underlying such behavioral dysregulation have not been systematically studied in the laboratory. The over-arching hypothesis of this application is that deficient inhibitory control and increased sensitivity to the disinhibiting effects of alcool contribute to the risk of DUI, and possibly to its recidivism. The proposed project views DUI offenders from a cognitive dysfunction perspective that targets deficits in specific mechanisms of behavioral regulation. The research will directly evaluate driving performance and mechanisms of self-regulation (e.g., inhibitory control, reward-seeking) in recidivist DUI offenders and will test hypotheses that these high-risk drivers respond differently to alcohol, wit increased disinhibition and risk-taking, and that these factors contribute to their decisions to drive after drinking. The application represents an innovative application of state-of-the-art assessments and techniques to identify the specific neurocognitive characteristics that underlie risky driving behavior, and which could be candidate mechanisms for treatment and prevention. The project aims fit well with the recent NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (PA-10-255), Behavioral Regulation Mechanisms of Alcohol Dependence and Related Phenotypes aimed at promoting research on the effects of alcohol on neurocognitive mechanisms implicated in impulse control.

Public Health Relevance

One in every 127 licensed drivers is arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), and recidivism rates are high, with over one-third of DUI offenders re-offending within three years. The proposed project examines DUI drivers from a cognitive dysfunction perspective that targets deficits in specific mechanisms of behavioral regulation. Identification of specific cognitive deficits in DUI offenders is critical for guiding new interventions that will move treatment beyond general addiction counseling. PHS 398/2590 (Rev. 06/09) Page Continuation Format Page

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA021722-02
Application #
8713887
Study Section
Cognition and Perception Study Section (CP)
Program Officer
Bloss, Gregory
Project Start
2013-08-05
Project End
2017-07-31
Budget Start
2014-08-01
Budget End
2015-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$319,444
Indirect Cost
$101,194
Name
University of Kentucky
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
939017877
City
Lexington
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40506
Van Dyke, Nicholas A; Fillmore, Mark T (2017) Laboratory analysis of risky driving at 0.05% and 0.08% blood alcohol concentration. Drug Alcohol Depend 175:127-132
Monem, Ramey G; Fillmore, Mark T (2017) Measuring heightened attention to alcohol in a naturalistic setting: A validation study. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 25:496-502
Roberts, Walter; Fillmore, Mark T (2017) Curbing the DUI offender's self-efficacy to drink and drive: A laboratory study. Drug Alcohol Depend 172:73-79
Laude, Jennifer R; Fillmore, Mark T (2016) Drivers who self-estimate lower blood alcohol concentrations are riskier drivers after drinking. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 233:1387-94
Van Dyke, Nicholas A; Fillmore, Mark T (2015) Distraction produces over-additive increases in the degree to which alcohol impairs driving performance. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 232:4277-84
Laude, Jennifer R; Fillmore, Mark T (2015) Simulated driving performance under alcohol: Effects on driver-risk versus driver-skill. Drug Alcohol Depend 154:271-7
Van Dyke, Nicholas; Fillmore, Mark T (2014) Alcohol effects on simulated driving performance and self-perceptions of impairment in DUI offenders. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 22:484-93
Van Dyke, Nicholas; Fillmore, Mark T (2014) Acute effects of alcohol on inhibitory control and simulated driving in DUI offenders. J Safety Res 49:5-11
Miller, Melissa A; Fillmore, Mark T (2014) Cognitive and behavioral preoccupation with alcohol in recidivist DUI offenders. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 75:1018-22