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On the measurement of the effects of alcohol and illicit substances on inhibition of return

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Abstract

Rationale

Inhibition of return (IOR) refers to the delayed orienting of attention to previously inspected locations in favour of novel locations. Given its implications for visual attention and search, researchers have begun to investigate whether IOR may be impaired by the use of alcohol or illicit substances (e.g. d-amphetamine).

Objectives

The present paper reviews the existing literature exploring the impact of alcohol and other drugs on IOR through the use of the model spatial cueing task developed by Posner.

Results

Studies were located that investigated IOR paradigm with respect to either (a) acute effects of alcohol or other psychoactive substances and (b) hallucinogenic drug states as models for psychosis. Findings suggest that alcohol, d-amphetamine and some hallucinogens may alter the timecourse of IOR. This review also yields a critical qualitative analysis of the methodology of studies in this field of research and the implications of particular methodological features for interpreting previous findings.

Conclusions

The importance of using multiple stimulus onset asynchronies, employing a cue-back to centre paradigm and distinguishing between acute and chronic substance use are emphasized. Furthermore, questions are raised as to whether findings suggest an impact of psychoactive substances on the subcortical mechanisms that play a critical role in the generation of IOR or are an indirect effect resulting from impairment of the cortical mechanisms responsible for voluntary disengagement of attention. Directions for future research and particular methodological approaches are highlighted.

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Notes

  1. We searched the PsycINFO, Medline and Web of Science databases to locate studies that examined (a) the acute effects of drugs on an IOR paradigm as tested in human drug administration laboratory studies or (b) IOR paradigm among chronic users of psychoactive substances. Included studies must have employed an IOR paradigm in individuals who had received an active dose of a psychoactive substance in a laboratory-based study. Databases were searched using the following search terms: inhibition of return, IOR, visual search, visual attention, orient* AND psychopharm*, pharm*, substance, drug, alcohol, stimulant, cannabis and hallucinogen. We also reviewed the reference lists of included articles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4R2

    Janine V. Olthuis & Raymond M. Klein

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  1. Janine V. Olthuis
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  2. Raymond M. Klein
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Correspondence to Raymond M. Klein.

Additional information

Janine V. Olthuis’ contribution to this manuscript was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and by a Killam Predoctoral Scholarship.

Appendix I

Appendix I

Table 1 Mean reaction time (in milliseconds) for target detection as a function of dose, trial condition and SOA
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Olthuis, J.V., Klein, R.M. On the measurement of the effects of alcohol and illicit substances on inhibition of return. Psychopharmacology 221, 541–550 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2725-x

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