Abstract
Effects of alcohol on divided attention and on accuracy of attentional shift. Two experiments are described in which a group of students (39 in experiment 1, 32 in experiment 2) carried out: 1- a dual task 2- a test of auditory attentional shift, both under two conditions: A- after drinking an alcoholic beverage until reaching a blood alcohol level between 0,3 and 0,4 gr/l in experiment 1 and between 0,2 and 0,3 gr/l in experiment 2, and B- after drinking a similar beverage with a negligible alcoholic content. Results showed that these low blood alcohol levels -below the legal limit for car drivers in Spainimpaired accuracy in attentional shift and affected the capacity of dividing attention. Possible implications for driving behaviour and road safety are discussed.
