QUANTITATIVE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF ANOXIA IN HUMANS; COMPARISON WITH ACUTE ALCOHOLIC INTOXICATION AND HYPOGLYCEMIA 1

Abstract

Acute alcoholic intoxication was produced in 6 adult cf subjects by the ingestion of 100 ml. of 95% alcohol within 5 mins. in a fasting state. Electroencephalograms were recorded before the intoxication and again when the first subjective symptoms appeared, i.e., within 45-55 mins. after drinking. The changes in the electroencephalograms were compared with those produced by high altitudes in a decompression chamber and by hypoglycemia induced by insulin injns. The degree of change in the electroencephalogram upon exposure to 16,000 ft. was roughly similar to that seen during the period of development of first symptoms of alcoholic intoxication and during reduction of blood sugar to 44-49 rag. %. The degree of change was considerably greater during severe intoxication and in the one instance where blood sugar fell to 35 mg. %. The overt behavior of the subjects after the admn. of alcohol was boisterous, euphoric, or aggressive; it was matter-of-fact during the flight expts., and anxious during hypoglycemia. The behavior pattern of the same subjects experiencing equivalent degrees of disturbance in consciousness and equivalent electroencephalographic changes during anoxia, hypoglycemia, and acute alcoholic intoxication was found to vary considerably. This variation was related to the previous personality structure of the subject and the social and psychologic implications of the particular exptl. procedure.