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Psychomotor and visual performance under the time-course effect of alcohol
M Q Wang1, M E Taylor-Nicholson, C O Airhihenbuwa
1Area of Health and Human Performance Studies, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 35487-0312.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|December 1, 1992
Summary
Alcohol impairs reaction time (RT), anticipation time (AT), and stereoscopic vision more during rising blood alcohol concentration (BAC) than falling. Visual acuity remained unaffected by alcohol.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Human Performance
- Toxicology
Background:
- Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is known to affect cognitive and motor functions.
- Understanding the precise impact of rising versus falling BAC on performance is crucial for safety and policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of alcohol on reaction time (RT), anticipation time (AT), and visual performance.
- To compare the impact of rising versus falling blood alcohol concentration (BAC) on these measures.
- To assess dose-dependent effects of alcohol.
Main Methods:
- Repeated-measures design with 16 participants (8 men, 8 women).
- Single-dose (2.3 oz) and double-dose (4.6 oz) sessions of 86-proof vodka.
- Breath BAC measured every 5 minutes.
- RT, AT, and visual performance tested every 20 minutes for 140 minutes.
Main Results:
- Reaction time (RT), anticipation time (AT), and stereoscopic vision were significantly impaired during the rising BAC phase compared to the falling BAC phase.
- Impairment was more pronounced in the double-dose session than the single-dose session.
- Far and near visual acuities were not significantly affected by alcohol across both sessions.
Conclusions:
- The rate of change in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) influences performance impairment, with rising BAC posing a greater risk.
- Alcohol consumption negatively impacts crucial performance metrics like RT and AT, with effects varying by dose.
- Visual acuity appears resilient to the acute effects of alcohol at the tested concentrations.