Reliability of a computerized assessment of psychomotor performance and its sensitivity to alcohol-induced impairment.
Two experiments examined a new computerized pursuit rotor task that measured psychomotor performance. Exp. 1 examined the acquisition and reliability of performance of 25 adults who performed the task on two sessions separated by a 2-wk. interval. Exp. 2 was a placebo-controlled test of task sensitivity to the performance-impairing effects of a 0.65 g/kg dose of alcohol. Exp. 1 showed that participants' performance was reliable over time. Exp. 2 showed that alcohol-impaired performance compared with placebo. The task could be useful for evaluating performance-impairing effects of other CNS depressant drugs, as well as complementing assessment batteries for research and instruction in studies of motor learning and human performance.
Fillmore
Mark T
MT
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506-0044, USA. mtfill2@uky.edu
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000431:Ethanol