252 PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL. 



would have produced a most unnatural reaction type. Similarly, by 

 analogy with all known "choice" reactions the simplification of the 

 possible modes of reaction from infinity to six would also tend to reduce 

 the reaction time. Now it is not inconceivable, and indeed, from the 

 numerous indications of our experimental results, it seems probable, that 

 the more elaborate controls often suffer earlier than the function itself. 

 This tendency appeared in the highly inhibited reflexes (Subjects X 

 and I V) , where the inhibition suffered first. It appeared in the memory 

 experiments of Subject VII, when the complex associative " story" 

 suffered far more than simple perseveration. Indeed, the suppression 

 of distraction in one instance seemed to aid the perseveration process. 

 This tendency appeared also in the threshold to Faradic stimulation, 

 where alcohol disturbed the subject's caution and produced more 

 numerous false reactions, i. e., reactions when there were no stimuli. 

 The more exact elaboration of the motor response which brings the eye 

 to a new point of regard in a single sweep also involves a complex 

 control, and less careful elaboration would permit a quicker response. 



Whether or not the eye-movements after 30 c.c. of alcohol are in 

 fact less accurately adjusted than normal could be finally settled only 

 by experimental measurement. But unfortunately spatially quanti- 

 tative techniques would be vastly more exacting than our temporally 

 quantitative technique. It is somewhat doubtful if it could be applied 

 indiscriminately to untrained subjects, such as those with whom we 

 dealt. However that may be, the records at hand were not taken with 

 spatially quantitative results in view. Consequently our results may 

 not be directly interpreted in spatial terms. But in the absence of 

 direct measurements it was obviously necessary to bring whatever 

 indirect evidence we possessed to bear on the problem of the apparent 

 exception. 



It is not without significance that under almost identical circum- 

 stances of a complex ''choice" reaction in the process of training, 

 Frankfurther 1 found typewriting errors enormously increased by alco- 

 hol, while the speed was occasionally increased (cf. his 41st day, pp. 

 436-437). His introspection is not irrelevant (p. 455): "I had the 

 feeling that the fingers ran faster than I could find the right spot for the 

 stroke. I often struck keys against my will, so that I must voluntarily 

 inhibit the movements in order not to make a mistake at every letter." 



There can be little doubt that even in small experimental doses along 

 with and as a part of the general depression we have clear indications of 

 a paralysis of inhibitory or controlling factors. These may on occasion 

 suffer greater relative depression than the direct process, as in the pulse. 

 When this depression of controls is combined with a reinforcement 

 caused by the experimental instructions, suitable conditions are pro- 

 vided for the slight reinforcements of reactions that rapidly pass over into 



'Frankfurther, Psychol. Arbeit., 1914, 6, p. 419. '-'Translated by authors. 



