This report describes an investigation which evaluated the ability of subjects, with or without alcohol, to perform a visual stimulus tracking task as presented by the Mark IV "Critical Task Tester," a device developed by the Systems Technology Corporation, Hawthorne, California. Analysis of error responses showed a statistically significant impairment of performance at a blood alcohol level (BAL) as low as 50 mg%. The operator's effective time delay also was affected at a BAL of 50 mg%. It was concluded that the Critical Task Tester has good potential for further use in evaluating human visual motor performance where small difference as a function of CNS depressents and other agents are of interest.
Abstract