Abstract
The aim of this study was to measure visual contrast sensitivity (CS) of luminance using vertical sinusoidal gratings with spatial frequencies of 0.6, 2.5, 5.0 and 20.0 cycles per degree of visual angle in chronic alcoholics in abstinence period. The participants were 20 volunteers (26–59 years of age) divided into two groups: the study group (SG) consisted of 10 volunteers with a clinical history of chronic alcoholism abstinence and the control group (CG) consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. Each group had five female and five male participants. All participants had normal or corrected visual acuity and were free of identifiable diseases. The psychophysical method of forced choice between two temporal alternatives (2AFC) was used to measure visual CS of luminance of 41.2 cd/m2. The results showed significant differences between groups for all spatial frequencies tested (p < 0.001). These results suggest alterations in the visual perception related to chronic alcohol consumption even after years of abstinence.
Highlights
Alcoholism is a worldwide health problem defined as a chronic disorder of alcohol dependence (WHO, 2010)
Subjects The participants were 20 volunteers divided into two groups: the study group (SG) which consisted of 10 volunteers with a clinical history of chronic alcoholism abstinence, aged between 26–59 (M = 47.1, SD = 11.2); and the control group (CG) which consisted of 10 healthy volunteers aged between 21–58 (M = 31.7, SD = 13.5)
The data showed that participants of the CG were more sensitive than the volunteers of the SG in the range of 1.25 times to the frequency of 0.6 cpd (p < 0.001); of 1.37 times to the frequency of 2.5 cpd (p < 0.001); and 2.11 times to the frequency of 5 cpd (p < 0.001) and 1.8 times to the frequency of 20 cpd (p < 0.001)
Summary
Alcoholism is a worldwide health problem defined as a chronic disorder of alcohol dependence (WHO, 2010). The excessive or chronic alcohol intake over time causes structural, cognitive and behavioral alterations in the Central Nervous System (Harper & Matsumoto, 2005; Marlatt, Blume, & Schamaling, 2000; Oliveira, Laranjeira, & Jaeger, 2002; Oscar-Berman & Marinkovic, 2003; Oscar-Berman & Marinkovic 2007; Rosenbloom, Sullivan, & Pfefferbaum, 2004; White, 2003). The studies mostly have assessed the effects of alcohol on visual perception using achromatic contrast sensitivity (CS) and acute or moderate alcohol intake (Adams, Brown, & Flom, 1976; Andre et al 1994; CavalcantiGaldino, Mendes, Vieira, Simas, & Santos, 2011; Cavalcanti-Galdino, Silva, Mendes, Santos, & Simas, 2014; Roquelaure, Gargasson, Kupper, Girre, Hispard, & Dally, 1995; Pearson & Timney, 1999; Weschke & Niedeggen, 2012)
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