THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND PARTIAL SLEEP LOSS ON DRIVING SIMULATOR PERFORMANCE AND COGNITION

Abstract

MANY ALCOHOL-RELATED VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS OCCUR AT NIGHT WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE PARTIALLY SLEEP DEPRIVED, BUT FEW STUDIES HAVE EXAMINED THE EFFECTS OF COMBINING ALCOHOL AND SLEEP LOSS ON DRIVING PERFORMANCE.

IN A WITHIN-SUBJECTS STUDY, HEALTHY ETHNIC-CHINESE MALES (N = 12, AGED 22-29 YEARS) WERE KEPT AWAKE FOR 24 CONSECUTIVE HOURS IN A LABORATORY SETTING ON 2 OCCASIONS. SUBJECTS WERE ADMINISTERED ALCOHOL OR PLACEBO DURING EACH VISIT. PARTICIPANTS COMPLETED 35-MINUTE DRIVING TASKS AT 5PM AND 1AM USING A PC-BASED SIMULATOR. STARTING AT MIDNIGHT, AN ALCOHOL SOLUTION (6% IN SALINE) WAS DELIVERED INTRAVENOUSLY FOR 2 HOURS.

IT WAS OBSERVED THAT VARIABILITY IN LANE POSITION WAS NEARLY 3 TIMES GREATER IN THE ALCOHOL CONDITION RELATIVE TO PLACEBO. ALSO, THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON LANE DEVIATION MEASURES AT 1AM WERE EQUIVALENT TO DRIVING PERFORMANCE IN THE PLACEBO CONDITION AT 5AM.

THIS STUDY HAS IMPLICATIONS ON DRUNK-DRIVING POLICIES IN SINGAPORE.