Cross-modal functions in alcoholism and aging

• Published in: Neuropsychologia 1990, Vol.28 (8), p.851-869
• Main Authors: Oscar-Berman, Marlene, Pulaski, Joan L., Hutner, Nancy, Weber, Dorothy Altman, Freedman, Morris
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Alcohol Amnestic Disorder - psychology; Alcoholism - psychology; Attention - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Depth Perception - drug effects; Discrimination Learning - drug effects; Ethanol - adverse effects; Form Perception - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Mental Recall - drug effects; Middle Aged; Problem Solving - drug effects; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Reaction Time - drug effects; Stereognosis - drug effects; Touch - drug effects; Transfer (Psychology) - drug effects
• ISSN: 0028-3932; 1873-3514
• DOI: 10.1016/0028-3932(90)90009-D

Two experiments were performed to measure separate aspects of cross-modal functions in normal and alcoholic research participants: matching, and utilization of concepts. In Experiment 1, cross-modal equivalence-matching was measured, i.e. the ability to select in a second modality (e.g. vision), the same stimulus that was first presented in a different modality (e.g. touch). Experiment 2 measured cross-modal transfer of information about stimulus dimensions, i.e. the ability to recognize and use the concepts of texture and form, based upon prior experience solving tactual problems, to solve visual problems. Fifty-five normal and alcoholic research participants comprised the following five groups: 13 young normals (YN) and 10 young alcoholics (YA), 28–48 years of age; 13 older normals (ON) and 14 older alcoholics (OA), 50–71 years of age; and 5 alcoholic Korsakoff patients (K), 55–68 years of age. Separate subgroups of 9 age-matched ONs and 9 OAs were devised for purposes of statistical analyses of data involving the 5 Ks. Results of the experiments indicated that aging is associated with decline in tactual discrimination ability. Further, cross-modal functions appear to be compromised by alcoholic Korsakoff's disease, and—to a lesser extent—by the combined effects of alcoholism and normal chronological aging. Brain mechanisms important for normal cross-modal functions are discussed.