title: Effects of alcohol on highway driving in the STISIM driving simulator.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The STISIM driving simulator is widely used. To enhance its usefulness in pharmacological research, a calibration study was performed to test a standardized highway driving test scenario after administration of three different dosages of alcohol and placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven healthy young adults (14 men and 13 women; mean age (SD) = 22.8 (1.4)) participated in this randomized, single-blind crossover trial. Subjects received alcohol to gain a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%, 0.08%, and 0.11%, or placebo-alcohol. In each condition, subjects completed a 100-km highway driving simulator test. The standard deviation of lateral position, the weaving of the car, was the primary parameter of the test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol produced dose-dependent driving impairment. Standard deviation of lateral position and standard deviation of speed were significantly increased relative to placebo (p < 0.05). Subjective driving assessments were in line with the objective driving measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STISIM highway driving simulator test is able to differentiate dose-dependent impairment after administration of alcohol. The highway driving test scenario is suitable for future psychopharmacological research.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.a.j.mets@uu.nl
authors.forename: Monique A J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mets
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.forename: Lieke M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Senerpont Domis
authors.forename: Maartje
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leenders
authors.forename: Berend
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: Joris C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Verster
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002138:Calibration; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol