The Effects of Alcohol on Reactions to Affective Stimuli

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Abstract
Moderate dosages of alcohol (.86 ml / kg) were administered to 24 normal adult male volunteers and their reactions to affective and neutral stimuli ascertained. The affective significance of each stimulus was determined individually by prior tests. The stimuli were tachistoscopically projected and the recognition thresholds, GSR''s [galvanic skin response] and verbal hypotheses measured over the course of presentation. Alcohol decreases physiological (GSR) and verbal reactivity to affective stimuli significantly and has a similar, although lesser, effect upon visual recognition. These findings suggest that moderate dosages of alcohol have their greatest effect upon the response phase of behavior. Lessened distress at this point permits a more vigilant and responsive orientation.

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