Pupillometric studies of alcoholism

Several parameters of the pupillary light and dark reflexes were employed as indices of sympathetic-parasympathetic activity in comparing alcoholics to nonalcoholics at rest, during stress, and following the termination of stress. Moreover, as the alcoholics were given the choice of drinking at frequent fixed intervals, the control values of autonomic activity were correlated with the subsequent decision to drink or not to drink. Overall differences in autonomic reactivity between nonalcoholics and alcoholics were found and drinkers were differentiable from alcoholic abstainers on several parameters.