title: Are we drunk yet? Motor versus cognitive cues of subjective intoxication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perception of alcohol intoxication presumably plays an important role in guiding behavior during a current drinking episode. Yet, there has been surprisingly little investigation of what aspects associated with intoxication are used by individuals to attribute their level of intoxication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Building on recent laboratory-based findings, this study employed a complex field-based design to explore the relative contributions of motor performance versus cognitive performance-specifically executive control-on self-attributions of intoxication. Individuals recruited outside of bars (N = 280; mean age = 22; range: 18 to 32) completed a structured interview, self-report questionnaire, and neuropsychological testing battery, and provided a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of a multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that current level of subjective intoxication was associated with current alcohol-related stimulant effects, current sedative effects, and current BrAC. After controlling for the unique variance accounted for by these factors, subjective intoxication was better predicted by simple motor speed, as indexed by performance on the Finger Tapping Test, than by executive control, as indexed by performance on the Trail Making Test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results-generated from data collected in a naturally occurring setting-support previous findings from a more traditional laboratory-based investigation, thus illustrating the iterative process of linking field methodology and controlled laboratory experimentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology , Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, New York.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Celio
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Usala
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lisman
authors.forename: Gerard E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Courtney S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Vetter-O'Hagen
authors.forename: Linda P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Spear
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology*; D001944:Breath Tests; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003463:Cues; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014145:Trail Making Test; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; Executive Control; Field Methodology; Motor; Subjective Intoxication