Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Monday, February 25, 2008

Alcohol slows interhemispheric transmission, increases the flash-lag effect, and prolongs masking: Evidence for a slowing of neural processing and transmission
Vision Research Volume 47, Issue 13, June 2007, Pages 1821-1832


While the alcohol literature is extensive, relatively little addresses the relationship between physiological effects and behavioural changes.

Using the visual system as a model, we examined alcohol’s influence on neural temporal processing as a potential means for alcohol’s effects. We did this by using tasks that provided a measure of processing speed: Poffenberger paradigm, flash-lag, and backward masking.

After moderate alcohol, participants showed longer interhemispheric transmission times, larger flash-lags, and prolonged masking.

Our data are consistent with the view that alcohol slows neural processing, and provide support for a reduction in processing efficiency underlying alcohol-induced changes in temporal visual processing.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: skhan5@uwo.ca
_____________________________________________________________________
at