title: Alcohol impairment of saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements: impact of risk factors for alcohol dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While persons at risk for alcohol dependence by virtue of heavy drinking patterns or family history (FH) of alcohol use disorders have exhibited differential alcohol responses on a variety of measures, few studies have examined alcohol's effects on eye movements in these subgroups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to (1) conduct a placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study of alcohol's effects on eye movements and (2) examine the impact of these risk factors on oculomotor response to alcohol.
  
  
  METHODS
  A within-subject, double-blind laboratory study was conducted in N = 138 heavy (HD; n = 78) and light social drinkers (LD; n = 60) with self-reported positive (FH+) or negative (FH-) family history. Subjects participated in three laboratory sessions in which they consumed a beverage containing a high (0.8 g/kg) or low (0.4 g/kg) dose of alcohol or placebo. Smooth pursuit, pro-saccadic, and anti-saccadic eye movements were recorded before and at two intervals after alcohol consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol significantly impaired smooth pursuit gain and pro- and anti-saccade latency, velocity, and accuracy in a dose and time specific matter. HD and LD showed similar impairment on smooth pursuit gain and anti-saccade measures, but HD were less impaired in pro-saccade latency, velocity, and accuracy. FH+ and FH- subjects were equally impaired in nearly all pro- and anti-saccade measures, but FH+ were less impaired in smooth pursuit gain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In sum, alcohol produced systematic impairment on oculomotor functioning, even at a non-intoxicating dose. Furthermore, high- and low-risk drinkers may be vulnerable to select performance deficits relative to eye movement task.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J O
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Andrea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012438:Saccades / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol