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Constraints on information processing under alcohol in the context of response execution and response suppression.

Author
Abstract
:

This study tested the degree that alcohol restricts information processing on tasks requiring response execution and response suppression. A dual task required 12 participants to respond to 2 task stimuli (Tasks 1 and 2) presented in close succession. The task was performed before and after receiving 3 alcohol doses (placebo, 0.45 g/kg, and 0.65 g/kg) administered on separate days in a counterbalanced order. Alcohol increased task interference, as evidenced by increased time to respond to Task 2. Impairment was comparable regardless of whether Task 1 required a response to be executed or suppressed. The evidence supports a resource limitation account that argues that alcohol reduces capacity to process information required for execution and suppression of responses.

Year of Publication
:
2002
Journal
:
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology
Volume
:
10
Issue
:
4
Number of Pages
:
417-24
ISSN Number
:
1064-1297
URL
:
http://content.apa.org/journals/pha/10/4/417
DOI
:
10.1037//1064-1297.10.4.417
Short Title
:
Exp Clin Psychopharmacol
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