Constraints on information processing under alcohol in the context of response execution and response suppression

Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2002 Nov;10(4):417-24. doi: 10.1037//1064-1297.10.4.417.

Abstract

This study tested the degree that alcohol restricts information processing on tasks requiring response execution and response suppression. A dual task required 12 participants to respond to 2 task stimuli (Tasks 1 and 2) presented in close succession. The task was performed before and after receiving 3 alcohol doses (placebo, 0.45 g/kg, and 0.65 g/kg) administered on separate days in a counterbalanced order. Alcohol increased task interference, as evidenced by increased time to respond to Task 2. Impairment was comparable regardless of whether Task 1 required a response to be executed or suppressed. The evidence supports a resource limitation account that argues that alcohol reduces capacity to process information required for execution and suppression of responses.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology
  • Alcohols / adverse effects
  • Alcohols / blood
  • Alcohols / pharmacology*
  • Attention
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / adverse effects
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / blood
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / pharmacology*
  • Discrimination, Psychological / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / drug effects*
  • Reaction Time / drug effects*
  • Refractory Period, Psychological / drug effects
  • Repression, Psychology*
  • Task Performance and Analysis

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Central Nervous System Depressants