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Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Effects of a Moderate Evening Alcohol Dose. II: Performance
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (OnlineEarly Articles). 5 June 2007



This second of a pair of papers investigates the effects of a moderate dose of alcohol and staying up late on driving simulation performance and simple visual reaction time (RT) at a known circadian phase in well-rested young adults.

Driving simulation performance deteriorated with extended waking and with alcohol; driving was most impaired at the peak alcohol level. The PVT, less complex than the driving simulation, did not show effects of alcohol, a finding consistent with previous literature that disruptive effects of low alcohol concentrations increase with task complexity.

Overall, simulated driving performance is significantly impaired late at night when even a moderate dose of alcohol is consumed.

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Reprint Request E-mail: tracy.rupp@amedd.army.mil
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