Alcohol slows interhemispheric transmission, increases the flash-lag effect, and prolongs masking: evidence for a slowing of neural processing and transmission.
While the alcohol literature is extensive, relatively little addresses the relationship between physiological effects and behavioural changes. Using the visual system as a model, we examined alcohol's influence on neural temporal processing as a potential means for alcohol's effects. We did this by using tasks that provided a measure of processing speed: Poffenberger paradigm, flash-lag, and backward masking. After moderate alcohol, participants showed longer interhemispheric transmission times, larger flash-lags, and prolonged masking. Our data are consistent with the view that alcohol slows neural processing, and provide support for a reduction in processing efficiency underlying alcohol-induced changes in temporal visual processing.
Khan
Sarah A
SA
Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, Rm. 6254, Social Science Centre, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5C2.
Timney
Brian
B
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
D000431:Ethanol