EFFECTS OF AN ACUTE DOSE OF PALM ALCOHOL ON NORMAL BRAIN FUNCTIONING - AN AUDITORY, EVENT-RELATED-POTENTIAL STUDY

The effects of an acute and high dose of palm alcohol (900 mg/kg bodyw eight) on brain functioning were investigated in 10 healthy, non-alcoh olic men. Each was given randomly-interspaced, paired, frequent standa rd (80%) and rare target auditory stimuli and asked to detect and sign al the target tone by pressing a push button. These brain function tes ts were carried out before (control) and 1 and 4 h after the subjects began drinking the alcohol. During each experimental session, late, ev ent-related-potential (ERP) components were recorded at the central mi dline scalp location (Cz). At both times after alcoholization, conting ent negative variations and late auditory ERP were lower than those re corded during the control session. Maximal amplitude reduction for N-1 and P-3 waves was seen 240 min after ingesting alcohol. Reaction time s were not significantly longer than those recorded pre-alcoholization but performances were lower at both times post-alcoholization. The re sults are consistent with the ERP changes reported in subjects under a cute ethanol intoxication but they are more pronounced and probably re flect a momentary disruption of central processes rather than sensory impairment at the peripheral level.