Visual Search Behavior while Viewing Driving Scenes under the Influence of Alcohol and Marihuana

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Abstract
Two experiments were performed to determine the effects of alcohol and marihuana on visual scanning patterns in a simulated driving situation. In the first experiment 27 male heavy drinkers were divided into three groups of nine, defined by three blood alcohol levels produced by alcohol treatment: 0.0%, 0.075%, and 0.15% BAC's. Significant changes in visual search behavior including increased dwell duration, decreased dwell frequency, and increased pursuit duration and frequency were found under alcohol. In the second experiment, 10 male social users of marihuana were tested under both 0 mcg and 200 mcg tetrahydrocannabinol per kilogram bodyweight. Marihuana was found to have no effect on visual search behavior. The results are related to previous studies of alcohol and marihuana effects on information processing.

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