DISTRACTION DOES NOT IMPAIR MEMORY DURING INTOXICATION - SUPPORT FOR THE ATTENTION-ALLOCATION MODEL

Objective: This study was developed to offer direct support for the Jo sephs and Steele attention-allocation model. The model suggests that a lcohol consumption limits attentional resources to the most salient en vironmental cue. Method: Forty men participated in a study designed to test the model using measures of memory and attention during ethanol intoxication. Twenty completed memory tests in the presence of a backg round distracter and 20 completed the tests without a distracter, in t wo sessions: once while intoxicated (80mg/dl BAC) and once while sober . Results: A significant Distraction X Intoxication interaction indica ted that ethanol-related differences in recall occurred only in the ab sence of distraction. Distraction impaired subjects only when they wer e sober. Conclusions: Results support the Josephs and Steele attention -allocation model. Findings are discussed in broad terms of an individ ual's cognitive capabilities when intoxicated and in terms of risk for later alcoholism.