Constraints on information processing under alcohol in the context of response execution and response suppression.
This study tested the degree that alcohol restricts information processing on tasks requiring response execution and response suppression. A dual task required 12 participants to respond to 2 task stimuli (Tasks 1 and 2) presented in close succession. The task was performed before and after receiving 3 alcohol doses (placebo, 0.45 g/kg, and 0.65 g/kg) administered on separate days in a counterbalanced order. Alcohol increased task interference, as evidenced by increased time to respond to Task 2. Impairment was comparable regardless of whether Task 1 required a response to be executed or suppressed. The evidence supports a resource limitation account that argues that alcohol reduces capacity to process information required for execution and suppression of responses.
Fillmore
Mark T
MT
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506-0044, USA. mtfill2@uky.edu
Van Selst
Mark
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000438:Alcohols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001288:Attention; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects*; D012033:Refractory Period, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
D000438:Alcohols; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants