The effects of alcohol and other drugs on psychomotor performance and cognitive function.
The effects of four doses of alcohol (0.25 g/kg-1 g/kg) and placebo on a standard test battery of cognitive and psychomotor performance are described. The tests included critical flicker fusion threshold, choice reaction time, tracking and memory scanning. The results of this experiment are compared with those of a number of similar studies which examined the effects of other psychoactive substances. Using relative effect sizes, the behavioural toxicity of alcohol is compared with the effects of these other drugs on psychomotor performance and cognitive function.
Hindmarch
I
I
Robens Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
Kerr
J S
JS
Sherwood
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005425:Flicker Fusion / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D000431:Ethanol