Effects of alcohol conditioning and expectancy on a visuo-motor integration task

Two experiments were performed in which the classical conditioning model of tolerance, the habituation theory of tolerance, and state dependent learning theory made conflicting predictions. In the first experiment, alcohol conditioning did not produce a compensatory response under placebo on a visuo-motor integration task, but disguised alcohol produced a large decrement in performance. Since the results were consistent both with habituation and state dependent learning theories, a second experiment was performed in which all subjects received alcohol, but half were told that they were receiving pure tonic water. The finding of no expectancy effect was inconsistent with habituation theory, but fully consistent with state dependent learning theory.