[Effect of alcohol on electrical organisation in the brain during a visuospatial working memory task and its relationship with the menstrual cycle].

Introduction: The metabolism of alcohol and cognitive functions can vary during the menstrual cycle. Also, both alcohol ingestion and hormonal variations during menstruation have been associated with characteristic changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. AIM. To determine whether EEG activity during a working memory task is affected by acute alcohol consumption, and if these EEG patterns vary in relation to different phases of the menstrual cycle.
Subjects and Methods: 24 women who drank a moderate dose of alcohol or placebo during the follicular and early luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. The EEG activity was recorded during performance of viso-spatial working memory task.
Results: Although the alcohol did not deteriorate the performance of working memory task, it caused in the EEG a decrease of relative theta power and lower right fronto-parietal correlation in theta and alpha2 bands. Only women who drank alcohol in the follicular phase had a higher relative potency of alpha1, which could indicate a lower level of arousal and attention.
Conclusions: These results contribute to a better understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying cognitive changes with alcohol and its relationship to the menstrual cycle.