Interaction of Alcohol with Incentive and with Sleep Deprivation.

Abstract

Abstract : Twenty-eight enlisted men carried out a 30-min. choice serial reaction test 4 times under all possible combinations of alcohol (A) (70 cc of 90.5% proof spirit 45 min. before testing) and placebo (P) (a similar non-alcoholic drink) with 30-hr. sleep deprivation (SD) and normal sleep (NS). In accuracy the adverse effect of A was reduced by SD. In speed scores it was reduced in low blood-alcohol subjects but increased in those with higher blood alcohol. In Experiment II knowledge (KR) and no knowledge (NKR) of results replaced the variables of SD and NS. KR increased the adverse effect of A upon speed and, marginally, upon accuracy. Behaviorally a moderate dose of alcohol appears to act as an arouser not a depressant, except, in susceptible subjects who have lost sleep. (Author)