TY - JOUR
T1 - The biphasic effects of alcohol
T2 - Comparisons of subjective and objective measures of stimulation, sedation, and physical activity
AU - Addicott, Merideth A.
AU - Marsh-Richard, Dawn M.
AU - Mathias, Charles W.
AU - Dougherty, Donald M.
PY - 2007/11
Y1 - 2007/11
N2 - Background: Alcohol produces biphasic effects of both stimulation and sedation. Sensitivity to these effects may increase the risk for the development of alcoholism. Alcohol-induced changes in stimulation and sedation are commonly assessed with self-report questionnaires in human research and with physical activity monitoring in animal research. However, little is known about the effects of alcohol on physical activity or the relationship between physical activity and subjective self-report measures of stimulation and sedation following alcohol consumption in humans. Methods: Thirty healthy men and women (n = 15 each) from 21 to 38 years old completed daily measurements of physical activity and self-reports of stimulation and sedation following alcohol or placebo consumption. Across each of the four experimental days, all participants consumed a placebo, 0.4, 0.6, or 0.8 g/kg dose of 95% alcohol in a counterbalanced order. Breath alcohol concentrations, physical activity levels, and self-reported stimulation and sedation were measured at baseline and on the ascending and descending limbs of the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) curve. Results: All alcohol doses increased physical activity, but these increases were time- and dose-dependent. Increases in physical activity lasted across both ascending and descending limbs of the BrAC curve. Following the 0.6 g/kg dose, both physical activity and self-reported stimulation increased during the ascending BrAC. Separate analyses of self-reported sedation scores indicated that alcohol consumption also increased sedation for the 0.6 and 0.8 g/kg doses. Physical activity was not significantly correlated with either self-reported stimulation or sedation at any time point. Conclusions: These findings suggest that assessments of subjectively measured stimulation and sedation and objectively measured physical activity each assess unique aspects of the effects of alcohol. Used simultaneously, these measures may be useful for examining underlying mechanisms of the effects of alcohol on behavior.
AB - Background: Alcohol produces biphasic effects of both stimulation and sedation. Sensitivity to these effects may increase the risk for the development of alcoholism. Alcohol-induced changes in stimulation and sedation are commonly assessed with self-report questionnaires in human research and with physical activity monitoring in animal research. However, little is known about the effects of alcohol on physical activity or the relationship between physical activity and subjective self-report measures of stimulation and sedation following alcohol consumption in humans. Methods: Thirty healthy men and women (n = 15 each) from 21 to 38 years old completed daily measurements of physical activity and self-reports of stimulation and sedation following alcohol or placebo consumption. Across each of the four experimental days, all participants consumed a placebo, 0.4, 0.6, or 0.8 g/kg dose of 95% alcohol in a counterbalanced order. Breath alcohol concentrations, physical activity levels, and self-reported stimulation and sedation were measured at baseline and on the ascending and descending limbs of the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) curve. Results: All alcohol doses increased physical activity, but these increases were time- and dose-dependent. Increases in physical activity lasted across both ascending and descending limbs of the BrAC curve. Following the 0.6 g/kg dose, both physical activity and self-reported stimulation increased during the ascending BrAC. Separate analyses of self-reported sedation scores indicated that alcohol consumption also increased sedation for the 0.6 and 0.8 g/kg doses. Physical activity was not significantly correlated with either self-reported stimulation or sedation at any time point. Conclusions: These findings suggest that assessments of subjectively measured stimulation and sedation and objectively measured physical activity each assess unique aspects of the effects of alcohol. Used simultaneously, these measures may be useful for examining underlying mechanisms of the effects of alcohol on behavior.
KW - Activity Levels
KW - Alcohol
KW - Biphasic
KW - Sedation
KW - Stimulation
KW - Subjective Effects
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00518.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00518.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 17949393
AN - SCOPUS:35349017394
SN - 0145-6008
VL - 31
SP - 1883
EP - 1890
JO - Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
JF - Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
IS - 11
ER -