Human stability in the erect stance: Alcohol effects and audio-visual perturbations.
OBJECTIVE
In this article, we discuss the connection between alcohol and the control strategies carried out by the central nervous system to maintain the erect stance. Audio-visual perturbations were coupled with the consumption of an alcoholic beverage to simulate the possible perturbation affecting people at disco clubs, and the effects measured with a stabilometric platform.


METHODS
We studied the statokinesigrams (SKG) of 14 volunteers; 11 of them were healthy, 3 were injured. We made a series of numerical tests using a stabilometric platform to record the statokinesigrams. The tests were carried out using statistical methods, time-series analysis, and applying the "p" parameter, recently proposed by Pascolo and Marini [2006. On the introduction of a new parameter for the analysis of posture. Europa Medicophysica, 42, 145-149] as a new tool to evaluate the reactions of the central control system with respect to posture-affecting diseases (for instance Parkinson) and perturbations.


CONCLUSIONS
This work shows that it is theoretically possible to define non-invasive parameters able to distinguish sober subjects from drunk subjects, with an evaluation that only uses a stabilometric platform.
Pascolo
Paolo Bartolomeo
PB
Laboratorio di Meccanica Funzionale, Università di Udine, Via Delle Scienze, 208, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Carniel
Roberto
R
Pinese
Bruno
B
D000328:Adult; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects*
D000431:Ethanol