Acute Alcohol Ataxia In Persons With Loss Of Labyrinthine Function

Abstract

The effect of alcohol on the postural equilibrium of seven persons with bilateral labyrinthine defects (LDs) was investigated mainly for the purpose of further elucidating the functional role of the vestibular organ in man. Generally, magnitude and duration of the intoxicating effects were found to be less than observed previously in normal persons. The superimposition of an “acute alcohol ataxia” on persons with pronounced, characteristic vestibular ataxia appears to depend on the degree to which they have compensated for their loss of vestibular function. To the extent that experimental conditions were comparable for both normal and LD subjects the vestibular organ may be regarded as a factor contributing to “acute alcohol ataxia” in normal persons.