Interaction of Noise with Alcohol on a Task of Sustained Attention

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Abstract
18 subjects carried out a 30 min 5-choice serial response test 6 times under all possible combinations of alcohol (at zero, ‘ low ’ and ‘ high ’ concentrations in the bloodstream) with quiet (70 dB) and continuous ‘ white ’ noise (100 dB) conditions. Speed of responding was significantly decreased by noise, but not by alcohol; there was no interaction between the two stressors in this aspect of performance. However, a clear interaction was observed in accuracy, the error rate increasing with alcohol under quiet conditions, and decreasing under noise conditions, in such a way that the separate effects of the two stressors were effectively cancelled out when administered in combination. The results are interpreted as supporting the view that noise functions as an ‘ arouser ’ and that alcohol, in its physiological role as a cortical depressant, acts in the opposite direction.

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