ADUK Archive

Article wrote:It is thought alcohol hinders analytical thinking and allows 'creative' thoughts that might otherwise by stifled to take root

michael769 wrote:Personally I suspect that the results have more do do with alcohols reduction in inhibitions meaning that folks were more willing to take the risk of appeaing daft by answering without delibaration. As we all know taking risks is not what one wants when in control of a 1tonne+ machine.

Kimosabe wrote:It's a common misconception (and this is not an endorsement of drinking alcohol until judgement is impaired) that a tense person will react more quickly to a situation than a relaxed one.

It is argued that this is because our subconscious is able to process and respond to more information, more efficiently than our conscious mind.

One way to look at this is if you were just shown something and asked about it, you would recall it faster and more accurately than if you were asked about it years later.

Isn't this the reason for why statements are taken as close to the time of an event as possible?

Kimosabe wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9197001/Alcohol-sharpens-the-mind-research-finds.html

I wouldn't know if this is true or not but I do know that people who are relaxed have much sharper reactions than people who are not relaxed.

michael769 wrote:

Kimosabe wrote:It's a common misconception (and this is not an endorsement of drinking alcohol until judgement is impaired) that a tense person will react more quickly to a situation than a relaxed one.

It is no misconception. Tension and stress are different degrees of the flight or fight response, a biological state specifically evolved to minimize reaction time and maximise our response to danger.

Fight-Flight responses are not always correct due to errors of judgement caused by stress and tension. Which is why it would always be better to be driven by a calm person, than a tense one, if you really want to apply black and white thinking to this.

It is argued that this is because our subconscious is able to process and respond to more information, more efficiently than our conscious mind.

True. Stress and tension act to prime the subconsious mind for action - which is why reaction times decrease, so I do not see how this means than being under the influence of alcohol will make us a better driver.

Ask the author of the article.

One way to look at this is if you were just shown something and asked about it, you would recall it faster and more accurately than if you were asked about it years later.

This is simply because our short term memory offers faster access than long term memory. Nothing to do with our state of relaxation.

Stress and Tension affect memory. STM is affected by states of relaxation.

Isn't this the reason for why statements are taken as close to the time of an event as possible?

Actually it is to prevent a phenomena where peoples beliefs and expectations modify their recall over time causing them to generate false memories.

It also denies the guilty or malicious time to come up with a convincing fabrication.

Agreed ...also.

Here is a video of people a bit merry, but below the UK drink driving limit.

My challenge to you: Find something similar that shows people driving better while "a bit merry".

michael769 wrote:Find something similar that shows people driving better while "a bit merry".

Gareth wrote:

michael769 wrote:Find something similar that shows people driving better while "a bit merry".

A very very long time ago, when I used to play on certain pinball machines to while away my time, I consistently found a very small amount of cider, perhaps between a quarter and half a pint, would result in better scores. Drinking more resulted in lower scores than when I was sober.

jcochrane wrote:

Kimosabe wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9197001/Alcohol-sharpens-the-mind-research-finds.html

I wouldn't know if this is true or not but I do know that people who are relaxed have much sharper reactions than people who are not relaxed.

Often I'm described as looking very relaxed at the wheel. Which is true. But in my case so relaxed that I have to ask my passengers to keep an eye on me and if they see my head nod forward to give me a quick dig in the ribs to wake me up.

Gareth wrote:A very very long time ago, when I used to play on certain pinball machines to while away my time, I consistently found a very small amount of cider, perhaps between a quarter and half a pint, would result in better scores. Drinking more resulted in lower scores than when I was sober.