Neuromuscular learning in middle-stage male alcoholics

In order to investigate the long-term effects of alcoholism on neuromuscular learning and control, middle-stage alcoholics were compared to nonalcoholics regarding ability to relax the frontalis muscle group via electromyographic biofeedback. Alcoholics were found to be as capable as nonalcoholics in reducing muscle tension. Alcoholics were noted to demonstrate significantly higher baseline levels of muscle tension prior to relaxation training, and these results are discussed in terms of the tension reduction hypothesis of alcoholism.