Alcohol may affect the behavior of men and women differently, altering the neural processes involved in decision-making, researchers from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) have found, Earth.com .
A team led by Dr. Alexander Friedman developed a special experimental model, RECORD (Reward Cost Decision-making), to investigate the effects of alcohol on choice in male and female laboratory rats.
In the first stage of the experiment, rats were offered only sweetened water, and all the animals, without exception, chose the sweetest option. But the situation changed after alcohol was added to the drink.
The effect of alcohol on decision-making
Male rats began to prefer drinks with higher alcohol content, even if they were less appealing in terms of taste. Moreover, the change in preference persisted for up to two months after alcohol consumption ended.
In contrast, females, despite consuming more alcohol per body weight, maintained their original preferences, suggesting that alcohol had not affected their decision-making patterns.
"Our results demonstrate gender-specific vulnerability to the effects of alcohol, at least in laboratory rats," said Dr. Friedman. He said such differences could explain why men are more likely to make impulsive or risky decisions when intoxicated.
Possible implications for medicine
Robert Kirken, dean of the UTEP College of Science, said the findings could help develop personalized approaches to preventing and treating alcohol dependence. The study shows that alcohol does not universally alter behavior, and the effects vary by gender and brain structure, among other factors.
These findings may be important for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of addiction formation, as well as for studying the impact of alcohol on everyday decisions - at home, at work, or in social interactions.
