The consumption, and often abuse, of alcohol is frequently accompanied by cigarette smoking. Ninety percent of alcoholics also smoke cigarettes in comparison to about 30% of the general population. It has been proposed that smoking could, by providing the stimulating effects of nicotine, offset the depressant effects of alcohol.
Such a proposal is consistent with animal studies which have indicated that cross-tolerance exists between tobacco and alcohol so that nicotine consumption may diminish sensitivity to the acute intoxicating effects of alcohol (on some measures). It has been hypothesized that the reduced sensitivity to alcohol could lead, in turn, to increased consumption and risk of addiction. This research represents an effort to systematically examine the acute effects of moderate doses of alcohol and cigarette smoke alone and in combination, on postural control, oculomotor control, cognitive functioning, and subjective reactions. Eight subjects (four female) will be tested in four counterbalanced sessions of alcohol only, cigarette only, alcohol with cigarette, and alcohol placebo. During all sessions testing will occur at baseline and at repeated intervals after dosing. Consistent with indications of cross-tolerance between alcohol and nicotine, it is hypothesized that the effects of alcohol on postural and oculomotor control, and on measures of subjective effect and cognitive function, will be diminished by concurrent smoking during the experimental session.
Preliminary Findings
Alcohol Effects
The dependent measures used in this experiment exhibited a large degree of sensitivity to the moderate alcohol dose. Alcohol consumption was associated with:
- Saccadic latency increases of 8%
- Increased horizontal smooth pursuit intrusion ratio
- Fewer nystagmus beats during optokinetic stimulation
- Reduced postural stability during eye closed conditions
- Delayed long-latency muscle contractions
- Increased subjective stimulation scores during the ascending BAC
- Increased subjective sedation scores during the descending BAC
Moderating Effects of Cigarettes
Cigarettes produced the most significant moderating effects in the horizontal smooth pursuit intrusion ratio and the lag of long-latency tibialis contractions following a toes-up rotation. Similar trends were seen in the number of nystagmus beats during optokinetic stimulation. These results suggest that cigarettes moderate the intoxicating effects of alcohol at a cortical level.
source: www.artsci.wustl.edu
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