title: Acute effects of ethanol on motor performance and movement-related brain potentials.
abstract: The acute effects of ethanol on skilled motor functions were examined in male social drinkers, under four doses ranging from 0 (placebo) to 1.05 g/kg lean body weight. The movement entailed a forewarned choice transitive motion of the arm and hand, aimed at a flanking target. Performance measures disclosed only small effects of ethanol on speed and accuracy of movement. The simultaneously-recorded movement-related brain potentials disclosed decreased involvement of frontal and posterior brain areas, suggesting that ethanol disrupted the planning and regulation of movement despite the overall preservation of reaction speed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rohrbaugh
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Frowein
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adinoff
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Varner
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Eckardt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linnoila
mesh_terms: D003265:Contingent Negative Variation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol