Date of Award

9-1-1991

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

In the past 20 years, a great deal of research has been conducted examining the effects of acute intoxication with alcohol (ethyl alcohol) on human memory. The aim of most of this research has been to determine how alcohol affects the varying "stages" of memory, as well as examining how it might affect different types of memory tasks. A few recent studies (Parker, et al., 1980, 1981) have examined the effects of alcohol on the post-learning processes of memory, independent of acquisition, by administering alcohol immediately after the acquisition of new material. This paradigm allows a stronger inference of any demonstrated actions of alcohol on memory in that it bypasses attention, sensation and motor effects on performance. Since both acquisition and retrieval of information take place in the non-drugged state, any effects noted should be due to alcohol's effect on the "consolidation" of memory. The present study was designed to examine the effects of alcohol on memory for two different kinds of materials. Standard word lists and narrative prose passages were employed to obtain a more detailed picture of the effects of post-trial intoxication with alcohol on memory. Additionally, the acute effects of intoxication on word naming were examined. Intoxication with ethanol did not affect subject's ability to recall simple word lists. Recall of prose passages was facilitated, though not to a statistically significant degree. Results are discussed in terms of Parker and Weingartner's (1984) model of post-trial facilitation of memory with drugs. Acute alcohol intoxication had no effect on word naming latencies. Present findings are discussed with respect to Moscowitz and Roth's (1971) study.

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