Autonomic functioning in alcoholics. A study of heart rate and skin conductance

Heart rate and skin conductance levels and variability were measured in alcoholics and nonalcoholics during a demanding neuropsychological task. Alcoholics without possible brain damage had a more variable heart rate and were more highly aroused. In the alcoholics with possible brain damage a negative correlation between heart rate variability and performance decrement and an inverse relationship between heart rate and skin conductance variability were found.