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Synonyms
Blood alcohol concentration; Blood alcohol content
Definition
Measure of alcohol in the blood.
Current Knowledge
Blood alcohol level (BAL) is typically expressed as milligrams or grams of ethanol per deciliter (e.g., 100 mg/dL or 0.10 g/dL). A level of 20–30 mg/dL typically results from the ingestion of one to two drinks. One drink corresponds to 340 mL (12 oz.) of beer, 115 mL (4 oz) of wine, and 43 mL (1.5 oz) of a shot. Blood alcohol levels as low as 20–80 mg/dL can lead to decreased inhibitions and decreased cognitive and motor performance, while levels of 300–400 mg/dL can lead to coma or death. Blood alcohol levels typically correlate inversely with cognitive and motor performance (i.e., as blood alcohol levels increase, cognitive and motor performance decrease). Specifically, increased blood alcohol levels correlate with slower reaction time and inversely correlate with frontal executive function. The tendency to underestimate one’s own blood alcohol level seems to pose an additional risk of impairment and injury risk. Additionally, speed of cognitive performance recovers as alcohol is metabolized and BAL decrease; however, accuracy may continue to remain impaired.
Cross-References
References and Readings
Domingues, S. C., Mendonca, J. B., Laranjeira, R., & Nakamura-Palacios, E. M. (2009). Drinking and driving: A decrease in executive frontal functions in young drivers with high alcohol concentration. Alcohol, 43(8), 657–664.
Harrison’s Online – Harrison’s principles of internal medicine (16th edn.). Chapter 372: Alcohol and alcoholism.
Laude, J. R., & Filmore, M. (2016). Drivers who self-estimate lower blood alcohol concentrations are riskier drivers after drinking. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 233(8), 1387–1394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-016-4233-x.
Schweizer, T. A., & Vogel-Sprott, M. (2008). Alcohol-impaired speed and accuracy of cognitive functions: A review of acute tolerance and recover of cognitive performance. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 16(3), 340–350.
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Zafonte, R., Kurowski, B., Zasler, N.D. (2018). Blood Alcohol Level. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_8
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Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-57110-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57111-9
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