title: Cognitive and electrophysiologic parameters during ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol curve.
abstract: This study examined the effects of acute alcohol ingestion and prior success or failure upon cognitive performance of 40 healthy, non-alcoholic subjects, during both the ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol curve. Measures of physiological arousal were made with frontal/laryngeal electromyographic and skin conductance response level parameters. Major findings were: (1) cognitive performance was impaired by alcohol ingestion; (2) autonomic arousal was significantly greater after alcohol than after placebo; (3) number and amplitude of skin response were greater on the ascending than on the descending limb; (4) the anticipated effects of failure on cognitive performance were ameliorated by alcohol; and (5) differential effects of alcohol on the psychophysiological parameters were demonstrated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000523:psychology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol