A PC-based software test for measuring alcohol and drug effects in human subjects.
A new software-based visual search and divided-attention test of cognitive performance was developed and evaluated in an alcohol dose-response study with 24 human subjects aged 21-62 years. The test used language-free, color, graphic displays to represent the visuospatial demands of driving. Cognitive demands were increased over previous hardware-based tests, and the motor skills required for the test involved minimal eye movements and eye-hand coordination. Repeated performance on the test was evaluated with a latin-square design by using a placebo and two alcohol doses, low (0.48 g/kg/LBM) and moderate (0.72 g/kg/LBM). The data on 7 females and 17 males yielded significant falling and rising impairment effects coincident with moderate rising and falling breath alcohol levels (mean peak BrALs = 0.045 g/dl and 0.079 g/dl). None of the subjects reported eye-strain or psychomotor fatigue as compared with previous tests. The high sensitivity/variance relative to use in basic and applied research, and worksite fitness-for-duty testing, was discussed. The most distinct advantage of a software-based test that operates on readily available PCs is that it can be widely distributed to researchers with a common reference to compare a variety of alcohol and drug effects.
Mills
K C
KC
Profile Associates, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
Parkman
K M
KM
Spruill
S E
SE
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001944:Breath Tests; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012984:Software; D014794:Visual Fields; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects
D000431:Ethanol