Alcohol slows interhemispheric transmission, increases the flash-lag effect, and prolongs masking: evidence for a slowing of neural processing and transmission.

Authors

Sarah A Khan
Brian Timney

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2007

Journal

Vision research

Volume

47

Issue

13

First Page

1821

Last Page

1832

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1016/j.visres.2007.03.008

Abstract

While the alcohol literature is extensive, relatively little addresses the relationship between physiological effects and behavioural changes. Using the visual system as a model, we examined alcohol's influence on neural temporal processing as a potential means for alcohol's effects. We did this by using tasks that provided a measure of processing speed: Poffenberger paradigm, flash-lag, and backward masking. After moderate alcohol, participants showed longer interhemispheric transmission times, larger flash-lags, and prolonged masking. Our data are consistent with the view that alcohol slows neural processing, and provide support for a reduction in processing efficiency underlying alcohol-induced changes in temporal visual processing.

Notes

Version of record available as:

Khan, S. & Timney, B. (2007). Alcohol slows interhemispheric transmission, increases the flash lag effect, and prolongs masking: Evidence for a slowing of neural processing and transmission. Vision Research, 47, 1821-1832. DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2007.03.008

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