Proprioceptive responses under rising and falling BACs: a test of the Mellanby effect

Percept Mot Skills. 1993 Aug;77(1):83-8. doi: 10.2466/pms.1993.77.1.83.

Abstract

This study examined proprioceptive responses under equivalent rising and falling blood alcohol concentrations (BAC), using a repeated-measures design. Seven volunteer subjects, 21 to 35 years of age, participated in the study. After alcohol consumption, BAC readings were obtained every 5 minutes, and the proprioceptive responses were measured at the following BAC levels (in %): 0 (baseline), rising 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, falling 0.075, and 0.05. The analysis focused on the comparisons of these measures at the equivalent rising and falling 0.05% and at the 0.075% BACs. Results showed that the proprioceptive response was less accurate during the rising than the falling BACs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects*
  • Ethanol / blood*
  • Humans
  • Learning / physiology
  • Male
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Proprioception / physiology*

Substances

  • Ethanol