What does this research mean for the field?

Binge drinkers exhibit sex-specific dysregulation in cognitive control processes, with women showing impaired theta power engagement and men demonstrating delayed beta desynchronization during decision-making tasks. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to investigate cognitive and motor decision-making processes in young adult binge drinkers, focusing on sex differences.

February 19, 2026Open Access

Oscillatory and behavioral indices of cognitive control dysregulation in young adult binge drinkers are influenced by sex differences

Key Points

This research aims to investigate cognitive and motor decision-making processes in young adult binge drinkers, focusing on sex differences.
Sixty-eight participants, including 34 binge drinkers and 34 light drinkers, participated.
A modified Stroop task was performed to assess cognitive control.
Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to analyze event-related theta and beta oscillations.
Performance was evaluated across various conflict levels, drinking groups, and sexes.
Binge drinkers showed longer reaction times during high-conflict trials, indicating cognitive interference.
Lower theta power in response to conflict was mainly observed in binge drinking women compared to light drinkers.
Increased alcohol intake in binge drinkers was associated with lower theta power and poorer task performance.
Event-related beta power was notably delayed in binge drinking men, linked to higher impulsivity.

Abstract

Abstract Background Binge drinking, defined as episodic alcohol intake reaching intoxication, is prevalent among young adults and linked to impaired cognitive control and risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Even though executive deficits contribute to addiction, evidence on their alterations in young adult binge drinkers (BDs) as a function of biological sex remains limited. This study examined cognitive and motor aspects of decision making as reflected in event‐related theta and beta oscillations, respectively. The executive neurobehavioral markers were analyzed in conjunction with alcohol‐related and other self‐reported variables and cognitive functions in BDs versus light drinkers (LDs) of both sexes. Methods Sixty‐eight participants (34 BDs, 34 LDs, 50% women) completed a modified Stroop task. Electroencephalography (EEG) signals were analyzed in the time‐frequency domain with Morlet wavelets. Behavioral performance and event‐related theta (4–7 Hz) and beta (15–25 Hz) power were compared across levels of conflict, drinking groups, and sex. Results BDs exhibited longer reaction times on high‐conflict trials, reflecting compensatory slowing during cognitive interference. Lower conflict‐induced theta power in BDs than in LDs was evident primarily among women. It was associated with greater alcohol intake and it mediated the impact of binge drinking on degraded task performance among BD women. In contrast, event‐related beta desynchronization during response preparation was attenuated and delayed only in BD men, which was partially mediated by impulsivity. Conclusions The observed links between binge drinking and dysregulated cognitive and motor control processes were interpreted in regard to sex‐specific neural alterations. Weaker engagement of cognitive control in BD women may be reflected in an impaired capacity to optimize decisions in challenging situations. Beta decrease during response preparation was especially attenuated in more impulsive BD men, which may contribute to their inability to refrain from risky behaviors. These findings highlight the need to consider biological sex in alcohol‐related neurocognitive research.

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