NTL Record

Title Alcohol and disorientation-related responses. III, Effects of alcohol ingestion on tracking performance during angular acceleration.
Record ID 39131
Personal Name
Creator
Collings, William E.; Gilson, Richard; Schroeder, David J.; Guedry, Frederick E.
Corporate Creator Civil Aeromedical Institute
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Office of Aviation Medicine
Publisher Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Publication Date 19710400
Language English
Abstract Most studies of the effects of alcohol on human performance involve static (absence of motion) situations. However, the addition of motion, involved in such activities as piloting an aircraft, might well produce impairments not usually obtained in static situations. The present study examined some of the effects of alcohol ingestion on visual tracking performance (eye-hand coordination) during angular acceleration. Following practice and base-line tests of tracking performance in both static (stationary) and dynamic (whole body angular acceleration) conditions, 10 subjects received orange juice which contained 2.0 ml of 100-proof vodka per kg of subject weight; another 10 drank orange juice with a few drops of rum extract added. Tests, conducted 1, 2, 4, 8, and 10 hours after drinking, were in total darkness with the exception of the visual display which was illuminated to recommended levels for cockpit instruments. Static tracking errors for Alcohol subjects were significantly higher than those of Control subjects only at the 4-hour session. However, Alcohol subjects made significantly more dynamic tracking errors than Controls during the 1-, 2-, and 4-hour sessions. These data suggest that eye-hand coordination may show little or no impairment following alcohol ingestion in static situations, yet may be seriously degraded during motion.
Rosap ID dot:20940
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/20940
TRT Terms Alcohol effects; Alcohol use; Motion; Aircraft pilotage; Eye; Eye movements; Eye fixations; Eye location; Visual perception; Angular acceleration; Instrument panels; Luminance; Blood analysis; Gas chromatography; Night vision; Vision tests; Vision; Motor skills; Performance tests; Dynamic tests; Errors; Rotation; Human subject testing
General Subjects Alcohol--Physiological effect; Airplanes--Piloting; Motion; Acceleration (Mechanics); Eye--Movements; Nystagmus; Aeronautical instruments--Display systems; Luminescence; Blood--Analysis; Gas chromatography; Night vision; Eye-hand coordination--Testing; Dynamic testing; Errors; Vestibular function tests; Vestibular apparatus
Classification NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Human Factors;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Safety/Airworthiness;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Human Factors
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number FAA-AM-71-20; DOT/FAA/AM-71/20
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/39000/39100/39131/AM71-20.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository