THE EFFECTS OF INTOXICATION LEVELS OF ETHANOL ON NOCTURNAL PENILE TUMESCENCE

This 12-night case study reports the effects of intoxication levels of ethanol (e.g., blood levels > 120 mg %) on Nocturnal Penile Tumescenc e (NPT). Several NPT variables were significantly reduced; however, th e critical effect appeared to be a delayed latency to the first NPT. I ntegrating the present findings into relevant REM sleep data, the auth or argues that the uncritical extrapolation of NPT observations to sex ual situations in the waking state, as an indication of ''antisexual'' effects of drugs (e.g., ethanol), may be misleading.