Cognitive and electrophysiologic parameters during ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol curve

This study examined the effects of acute alcohol ingestion and prior success or failure upon cognitive performance of 40 healthy, non-alcoholic subjects, during both the ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol curve. Measures of physiological arousal were made with frontal/laryngeal electromyographic and skin conductance response level parameters. Major findings were: (1) cognitive performance was impaired by alcohol ingestion; (2) autonomic arousal was significantly greater after alcohol than after placebo; (3) number and amplitude of skin response were greater on the ascending than on the descending limb; (4) the anticipated effects of failure on cognitive performance were ameliorated by alcohol; and (5) differential effects of alcohol on the psychophysiological parameters were demonstrated.