Alcohol intoxication in humans: effects on vigilance performance
Rohrbaugh, J.; Stapleton, J.M.; Parasuraman, R.; Frowein, H.; Eckardt, M.J.; Linnoila, M.
Alcohol and Alcoholism . Suppl 1: 97-102
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 1358-6173 PMID: 3426761 Document Number: 291026
Effects of ethanol on vigilance in tasks requiring continuous performance are reviewed. Evidence is presented to indicate that ethanol has adverse effects on both the overall level of performance and the rate of performance decrement over time. The effects on performance level are attributed to nonspecific sedative properties of ethanol whereas the effects on rate of decrement are interpreted as a more specific loss in cognitive processing capacity.