not habitual or automatic [25]. The present aMEG results further refine and extend this overall conclusion by providing insight into the successive stages of processing with respect to stimulus presentation as well as response execution. While ACC is uniquely sensitive to conflict and it is the principal generator of theta during both early conflict detection, and late response preparation and execution stages, it is co-active with other fronto-parietal areas that also contribute to theta generation. Alcohol intoxication attenuates theta associated with conflict indicating that the controlled processing is susceptible to its effects during successive stages. Controlled processing, an aspect of executive functions, refers to the capacity to inhibit automatic responses in favor of relevant, previously unrehearsed responses [57], [58], [59]. Its main function is to ensure that our actions can be flexibly modified in agreement with intents and goals [60]. Results of the present study indicate that alcohol disrupts the top-down strategic processing of conflict, potentially resulting in increased susceptibility to immediate cues. Indeed, impaired self-regulation is considered important in the development of alcohol abuse. Loss of control may result from reduced ability to refrain from drinking [33], [34], [61], [62], [63].
