Alcohol and cognition; some preliminary observations.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychopharmacology

Background:

• Alcohol consumption affects cognitive functions.
• Individual differences exist in alcohol tolerance development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between self-reported cognitive effects of alcohol and the development of tolerance.
• To determine if subjective cognitive experiences predict tolerance acquisition rate.

Main Methods:

• Participants received either alcohol or a placebo.
• Cognitive function was assessed via self-report.
• Alcohol tolerance was measured using pursuit-rotor performance.
• The speed of tolerance acquisition was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Self-reported cognitive changes effectively differentiated between the alcohol and placebo groups.
• Subjective cognitive reports were significantly associated with the rate of tolerance development to alcohol's effects on motor performance.

Conclusions:

• Subjective cognitive experiences serve as a valid indicator of alcohol's central nervous system effects.
• Self-awareness of cognitive impairment may influence or reflect the speed at which tolerance to alcohol develops.