Behavioral effects of 0 and 0.05% blood alcohol in male volunteers

Five behavioral tests were evaluated to determine their sensitivity to the subtle central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects produced by ingestion of ethanol. Twenty-one adult male volunteers received 0 and 1.4 ml 100 proof vodka/kg body weight according to a "double-blind" crossover design. Behavioral tests were conducted between 15 and 65 minutes after ethanol ingestion, when blood alcohol concentrations (BAC's) were between 0.05 and 0.06%. Tests evaluated were Archimedes spiral, digit span memory, critical flicker fusion, stabilometry and tachistoscope. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using composite scores representing the individual tests indicated that the battery as a whole was sensitive to ethanol effects. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) on each test indicated that critical flicker fusion, stabilometry and tachistoscope contributed more to the overall sensitivity of the battery than did digit span memory and Archimedes spiral.