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.

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