Alcohol impairs speed of information processing and simple and choice reaction time and differentially impairs higher-order cognitive abilities

Previous research has demonstrated that alcohol impairs information process ing. However, it is unknown whether this impairment is on all stages of inf ormation processing, or on the early, rather than on the later, stages of i nformation processing. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine th e effects of orally administered alcohol on both the early and the later st ages of information processing. The present study assessed inspection time (IT), simple reaction time, choice reaction time and cognitive ability (Wec hsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Revised) in 16 adult participants in both alcohol and placebo conditions. IT (a measure of the early stages of inform ation processing) was used as a predictor variable in a linear regression t o examine whether a disruption of the early stages of information processin g accounted for changes in total information processing after alcohol admin istration. Results indicated that alcohol significantly slowed total inform ation processing; independently of the early stages of information processi ng.