Altered States of Consciousness

Although scientists do not agree on the initial site of impairment, there is no doubt that intoxication produces an altered state of consciousness in individuals. Behavioral and biological differences suggest, however, that the period of mood and behavior modification is not a unitary or single state. Rather, the duration of the effects of alcohol is a time composed of several different states of consciousness, depending on whether the blood-alcohol concentration is increasing (the ascending limb of the blood-alcohol curve) or decreasing (the descending limb of the blood-alcohol curve).

Four alcohol states of consciousness (ASC) during intoxication:

ASC-1
the time of alcohol absorption and increasing blood-alcohol concentrations, is characterized by talkativeness, laughter, motor incoordination, impaired performance on various cognitive, motor, and sensory tasks, and poor memory

ASC-2
the time beginning after the peak blood-alcohol concentration has been obtained and the blood-alcohol level is declining, during which the drinker becomes quiet and tired, but impaired performance is beginning to improve

ASC-3
the time beginning about halfway between peak blood-alcohol concentration and zero blood-alcohol level, in which the individual feels confident that he or she is perfectly sober, yet a detectable blood-alcohol concentration is still present.

ASC-4
the time during which all traces of alcohol have disappeared from the body, but for up to 32 hours after drinking, positional alcohol nystagmus (PAN) eye movements can be detected in which the eyeballs involuntarily oscillate laterally, vertically, or in a rotary manner.

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