title: Neurocognitive and mood effects of alcohol in a naturalistic setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current pilot study aimed to assess the effects of drinking alcohol in a naturalistic setting on aspects of performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty individuals were approached and tested individually in a university campus bar. They provided details regarding alcoholic drinks consumption. Each was breathalysed before and after completion of a computerised test battery administered on a handheld device. The battery consisted of visual analogue mood scales, a series of alcohol-sensitive psychomotor and cognitive tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were highly significant correlations between measured blood alcohol concentrations, estimated units of alcohol consumed and scores on a 'sober-drunk' VAS (p < 0.001 in all cases). For performance, there was a characteristic alcohol-associated shift in the speed/accuracy trade-off (SATO), which was reflected as significantly more errors with less effect on speed across several measures (including maze performance and Serial Sevens). Individuals who were more intoxicated were also significantly less alert.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that controlled laboratory tests into the effects of alcohol intoxication may have ecological validity, with SATO shifts amongst the characteristic impairments seen in both controlled and naturalistic settings.
authors: Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. andrew@scholeylab.com
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Scholey
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Benson
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Neale
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Owen
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Tiplady
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol