The Effects of Alcohol and of Varying Amounts of Visual Information on a Balancing Test

Abstract

A new kind of dynamic balancing test has been devised. Eight subjects carried out experiments in which the effects of alcohol and the effects of varying amounts of visual information on sway and oscillation were studied. It was concluded that peripheral vision was a crucial factor in the effective performance of the test, and it was noted that quite modest amounts of alcohol could produce a deterioration in performance. The provision of extra visual information about the effectiveness of response had a beneficial effect.