An experimental study was performed testing whether a small dose of alcohol would lead to larger decrements in simple visual reaction time for peripheral signals compared to central ones. Analysis indicated such an effect of alcohol, which was discussed as supportive of an interpretation in terms of impaired peripheral sensory sensitivity rather than a redistribution of attention within the visual field.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BursillA. E.The restriction of peripheral vision during the exposure to hot and humid conditions. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1958, 10, 113–129.
2.
CornsweetD. M.Use of cues in the visual periphery under conditions of arousal. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1969, 80, 14–18.
3.
GustafsonR.Alcohol and vigilance performance: effect of small doses of alcohol on simple visual reaction time. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1986, 62, 951–955.
4.
GustafsonR.Effect of moderate doses of alcohol on simple auditory reaction time in a vigilance setting. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1986, 62, 683–690.
5.
HamiltonP.Selective attention in a multisource monitoring task. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1969, 82, 34–37.
6.
HamiltonP.CopemanA.The effect of alcohol and noise on components of a tracking and monitoring task. British Journal of Psychology, 1970, 61, 149–156.
7.
HockeyG. R. J.Effect of loud noise on attentional selectivity. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970, 22, 28–36.
8.
HockeyG. R. J.Signal probability and spatial location as possible basis for increased selectivity in noise. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1970, 22, 37–42.
9.
HuntleyM. S.Effects of alcohol and fixation-task difficulty on choice reaction time to extrafoveal stimulation. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 1973, 34, 89–103.
10.
MoskowitzH.DePryD.Differential effect of alcohol on auditory vigilance and divided-attention tasks. Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 1968, 29, 54–63.
11.
MoskowitzH.SharmaS.Effects of alcohol on peripheral vision as a function of attention. Human Factors, 1974, 16, 174–180.
12.
von WrightJ. M., & MikkonenV. The influence of alcohol on the detection of light signals in different parts of the visual field. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 1970, 11, 167–175.
13.
WachtelP. L.Anxiety, attention, and coping with threat. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1968, 73, 137–143.
