Dual Response to Alcohol Cues in Substance Use Disorders

This project presents two interrelated studies investigating how alcohol-related cues affect individuals with substance use disorders. Study 1 (Behavioral): We discovered a paradoxical effect: polysubstance users showed improved facial emotion recognition (faster for disgust, more accurate for anger) after exposure to alcohol cues. This challenges the simple view that drug cues universally impair cognition. Study 2 (Physiological): Measuring heart rate variability, we found the hidden cost of this reactivity: a pattern of autonomic dysregulation characterized by chronically low parasympathetic (vagal) tone and a cue-specific spike in sympathetic activity. This imbalance is linked to craving and stress vulnerability. Integrated Conclusion: Drug-related cues can create a dissociated state where certain cognitive functions may become temporarily sharper within a context of physiological stress and imbalance. This autonomic imbalance (high sympathetic/low vagal tone) represents a novel target for biofeedback-based relapse prevention interventions. Associated Publications: Congia, P., & Brundu, M.G. (2024). Preliminary evidence that alcohol-related cues enhance facial emotion recognition speed and accuracy in polysubstance users. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.08.019 Congia, P., & Brundu, M.G. (2025). Autonomic nervous system reactivity to alcohol-related cues in cocaine use disorder: vagal-sympathetic balance and clinical implications. 10.1007/s00213-025-06942-4 Psychopharmacology #CueReactivity #SubstanceUseDisorder #HRV #AutonomicNervousSystem #CognitivePsychology #AddictionResearch #Neuroscience