Autonomic functioning in alcoholics. A study of heart rate and skin conductance.
Heart rate and skin conductance levels and variability were measured in alcoholics and nonalcoholics during a demanding neuropsychological task. Alcoholics without possible brain damage had a more variable heart rate and were more highly aroused. In the alcoholics with possible brain damage a negative correlation between heart rate variability and performance decrement and an inverse relationship between heart rate and skin conductance variability were found.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D012119:Respiration; D012146:Rest