Effects of graded doses of alcohol on speed-accuracy tradeoff in choice reaction time

Jennings, J. Richard; Wood, Charles Cresson; Lawrence, Betsy E. · 1976 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3758/bf03199391

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Summary

This 1976 study by Jennings, Wood, and Lawrence investigates the inconsistent findings regarding alcohol’s effects on choice reaction time (RT). The authors argue that previous discrepancies may stem from uncontrolled tradeoffs between speed and accuracy, where subjects might sacrifice accuracy to maintain speed, or vice versa. To distinguish between changes in performance efficiency and shifts in speed-accuracy criteria, the researchers generated complete speed-accuracy tradeoff functions for graded doses of alcohol. The experiment employed a within-subjects design with five healthy male volunteers. Participants performed an auditory choice RT task using a signaled deadline procedure, which required responses before a visual cue appeared. Five deadline intervals (175–375 msec) were used to systematically manipulate the speed-accuracy tradeoff. Subjects consumed one of five alcohol doses (placebo, 0.33, 0.67, 1.00, and 1.33 ml/kg) in a counterbalanced order. Blood alcohol levels were monitored via breathalyzer to ensure testing occurred during the ascending limb of the alcohol curve. Accuracy was measured using information transmitted, $U(x:y)$, to linearize the relationship with RT. Results indicated that increasing alcohol doses significantly decreased the slope of the linear speed-accuracy tradeoff functions, while the intercept remained statistically unchanged. This reduction in slope signifies a decrease in performance efficiency, specifically a lower rate of accuracy growth per unit of time. Analysis of "equal-RT contours" revealed that alcohol did not significantly affect accuracy at fast RT levels (200 msec) but caused progressive accuracy decrements at slower RT levels (300 msec). Additionally, at the highest dose (1.33 ml/kg), mean RT appeared faster than other doses, suggesting a shift in criterion toward speed at the expense of accuracy. Alcohol did not significantly affect RT variability or compliance with deadline instructions. The study concludes that alcohol impairs choice RT performance primarily by reducing efficiency rather than solely by shifting response criteria, although criterion shifts occur at high doses. The findings demonstrate that analyzing mean RT alone can be misleading, as it may mask accuracy deficits or misinterpret criterion shifts as facilitation. By using speed-accuracy tradeoff functions, the researchers clarified that alcohol reduces the capacity to gain accuracy over time, providing a more nuanced understanding of alcohol’s impact on psychomotor performance.

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• alcohol