Both approaches—the structure-function relationship and the process-oriented approach—have been used to help explain cognitive-functioning impairments in abstinent alcoholics. The hypotheses based on these approaches are not necessarily mutually exclusive, however. No single hypothesis can yet explain all the research findings of cognitive impairments in alcoholics. Instead, these hypotheses apply to particular aspects of the empirical data discussed here. Thus, each model provides only a partial answer to how alcoholism impairs cognitive function.
