3 ms·

Alcohol tolerance doesn't meaningfully affect reaction time. We use the same word ("tolerance") for alcohol and marijuana, but the mechanisms are quite differen

by rafram 1y ago

Alcohol tolerance doesn't meaningfully affect reaction time. We use the same word ("tolerance") for alcohol and marijuana, but the mechanisms are quite different.

xienze 1y ago
Are you suggesting that two people, same weight, same metabolism, but one is a lifelong alcoholic and the other a once-per-month drinker — if they both have three or four drinks, the alcoholic would be just as impaired as the other person? I doubt that. The whole “functioning” part of “functioning alcoholic” implies that the alcoholic is able to, well, function in a manner a normal person wouldn’t if they had been drinking as heavily.
- lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 1y ago
  > The whole “functioning” part of “functioning alcoholic” implies that the alcoholic is able to, well, function in a manner a normal person wouldn’t if they had been drinking as heavily. Well, It's like "functioning" in "high-functioning autism"; it's speaks to how well they can function in society, not how well they can operate a motor vehicle (nor anything to do with reaction times).
- rafram 1y ago
  If they had the same BAC, yes. It may not make intuitive sense, but that’s just how alcohol tolerance works. The slow reaction times don’t go away. Alcohol in the bloodstream has a direct effect on your brain’s neural pathways that you can’t develop a resistance to.
  - mothballed 1y ago
    Slower reaction times might not go away, but is there evidence you can't get better at handling slower reaction times? Practice generally improves performance in most tasks, I would presume someone with no experience at increased reaction times for instance would perform worse than someone experienced in it.
    - watwut 1y ago
      There is no such evidence. Alcohol removes inhibitions and makes people more confident. End result is that worst reaction time is coupled with more risk taking and for many people with increased aggression. Making situation worst.

by rafram 1y ago

Alcohol tolerance doesn't meaningfully affect reaction time. We use the same word ("tolerance") for alcohol and marijuana, but the mechanisms are quite different.

xienze 1y ago

Are you suggesting that two people, same weight, same metabolism, but one is a lifelong alcoholic and the other a once-per-month drinker — if they both have three or four drinks, the alcoholic would be just as impaired as the other person? I doubt that. The whole “functioning” part of “functioning alcoholic” implies that the alcoholic is able to, well, function in a manner a normal person wouldn’t if they had been drinking as heavily.

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 1y ago
> The whole “functioning” part of “functioning alcoholic” implies that the alcoholic is able to, well, function in a manner a normal person wouldn’t if they had been drinking as heavily. Well, It's like "functioning" in "high-functioning autism"; it's speaks to how well they can function in society, not how well they can operate a motor vehicle (nor anything to do with reaction times).
rafram 1y ago
If they had the same BAC, yes. It may not make intuitive sense, but that’s just how alcohol tolerance works. The slow reaction times don’t go away. Alcohol in the bloodstream has a direct effect on your brain’s neural pathways that you can’t develop a resistance to.
- mothballed 1y ago
  Slower reaction times might not go away, but is there evidence you can't get better at handling slower reaction times? Practice generally improves performance in most tasks, I would presume someone with no experience at increased reaction times for instance would perform worse than someone experienced in it.
  - watwut 1y ago
    There is no such evidence. Alcohol removes inhibitions and makes people more confident. End result is that worst reaction time is coupled with more risk taking and for many people with increased aggression. Making situation worst.