Remarkably few attempts have been made to investigate the effects of alcohol on any form of conditioning in man. GA~TT (1935) reported that small dosages of ethyl alcohol increased the latency of conditioned salivary and motor responses in dogs and that larger doses decreased the intensity of the CtK MEAD (1939) studied the simple conditioned finger withdrawal to light and shock under alcohol, but his sample consisted of only six males and his results are inconsistent and inconclusive. BArThOLOMeW, F~A~KS and M~RLEY (1958) examined the acquisition and extinction conditioned eyeblink and PGE responses of hospitalized neurotic subjects prior to receiving methylpentynol (a higher alcohol) and six to ten days later while under the influence of this drug. The ensuing data were later compared with those resulting from similar procedures applied to normal subjects over intervals of 14--21 days. For obvious reasons, although the comparison suggests that methylpentynol impedes the ability to form conditioned eyeblink and PGI~ responses, little reliance can be placed on this conclusion.
The above reports, in isolation, do little more than suggest the possibility that ethyl alcohol, generally regarded as a central depressant (F~:s 1958), impairs the ability to form, retain and evoke certain CRs in man. This possibility is strengthened by an examination of the CI~ behavior of other depressants; it has been demonstrated on many occasions that sedatives, tranquilizers and a variety of central depressants have an inhibiting effect on the progress of classical CRs in man and animal alike (e.g., Dwo~xI~, Bov~n and I~OGI~SKY 1937; HILGAnD and MARQUIS 1940, p. 19). More specifically, F~A~Ks and LXVERTY * The writer is indebted to the United States Public Health Service, under whose Research Grant No. M 2720 a large part of this investigation was carried out, and to LESLIE E. H. LINDβ’ MARY BIGELOW, EDWARD HOLDEN and JuDY LINDA]tL who assisted in various w~ys with the testing, recruitment of subjects and scoring of data. Trenton State Police Headquarters generously loaned us a Harger Drunkomcter and provided training in its use.