DIFFERENT COGNITIVE EFFECTS IN THE INCREASING AND DECREASING LIMB OF THE METABOLIC CURVE OF ETHANOL

39 healthy subjects (20 men and 19 women) received a single dose of et hanol (1 g/kg). We used the Benton test to assess differences in perfo rmance during absorption and elimination phases of ethanol. In the abs orption phase, at a mean blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.24 g/l , the subjects' performance decreased significantly. This impairment w as related to perceptual-motor and visual memory processes. In the eli mination phase, at a mean BAC of 0.47 g/l, there was no decrease in pe rformance. We may conclude that behaviour was different in the ascendi ng and descending phases. It is therefore necessary to differentiate t he alcohol metabolization phases in future studies. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall Ltd.