Alcoholic intoxication and memory storage dynamics

Abstract

Strength retention functions were obtained for English words from 2 min to 50 min within a continuous recognition memory session and from I to 14 days subsequent to the session, with subjects being sober or moderately intoxicated. A small, but significant, decrement was obtained in memory performance under alcoholic intoxication. However, there was no difference in forgetting rate either within the continuous session or over the subsequent 1- to 14-day period. Single-trace fragility theory provided an excellent fit to the data. The entire effect of alcoholic intoxication was on degree of learning with no effect on the form of the retention function or rate of forgetting. No state-dependent retrieval effects were obtained. White noise during learning and/or retrieval had no effect on acquisition, storage, or retrrieval.