Interaction of Alcohol with Incentive and with Sleep Deprivation.

Abstract

28 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 nonalcoholic 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 Ss but increased in high ones. 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 Ss who have lost sleep. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)