Effect of Alcohol on Short Term Memory in Alcoholics

Acute alcohol intoxication is commonly followed by partial or total amnesia† for events occurring during the drinking period (Goodwin et al., 1969a). Individuals observed during the ‘blackout’ period have been noted to have a specific short term memory deficit, with remote and immediate memory large...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of psychiatry 1973-01, Vol.122 (566), p.93-94
Main Authors: Goodwin, Donald W., Hill, Shirley Y., Powell, Barbara, Viamontes, Jorge
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abstract
Adult
Alcoholism
Amnesia
Ethanol - administration & dosage
Ethanol - pharmacology
Humans
Male
Memory, Short-Term - drug effects
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Description
Summary:Acute alcohol intoxication is commonly followed by partial or total amnesia† for events occurring during the drinking period (Goodwin et al., 1969a). Individuals observed during the ‘blackout’ period have been noted to have a specific short term memory deficit, with remote and immediate memory largely intact (Ryback, 1970; Goodwin et al., 1970; Tamerin et al., 1971). The amnesia appears to be anterograde rather than retrograde, resembling the characteristic memory deficit in Korsakov's syndrome. Speculation has ensued that blackouts and Korsakov's syndrome may share common pathophysiological elements, though there is no direct evidence for this (Goodwin et al., 1969b).
ISSN:0007-1250
1472-1465
DOI:10.1192/bjp.122.1.93