None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study will examine whether the impairing effects of sleep loss, alcohol and hypnotic drugs can be detected using a simulated driving task and drowsiness monitoring technology in the laboratory setting. The hypothesis of this study is that performance deterioration, as a result of sleep restriction and acute benzodiazepine administration, can be detected by increases in slow eyelid closure, a reduction in amplitude of eyelid opening and a reduction in saccadic eye movements, as measured by Optalert.
Interventions
All participants will undergo three randomised sessions, seperated by a 1 week washout period. 1. Sleep restriction session: sleep will be restricted to 4 hours on the night prior to testing (2am to 6am).
2. benzodiazepine session: a single, 20mg oral dose of benzodiazepine administered at 9am, 2 hours prior to testing
3. alcohol session: measured doses of vodka in orange juice will be administrered orally until a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05% and 0.08% is reached (checked by alcome
All participants will undergo three randomised sessions, seperated by a 1 week washout period. 1. Sleep restriction session: sleep will be restricted to 4 hours on the night prior to testing (2am to 6am). 2. benzodiazepine session: a single, 20mg oral dose of benzodiazepine administered at 9am, 2 hours prior to testing 3. alcohol session: measured doses of vodka in orange juice will be administrered orally until a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05% and 0.08% is reached (checked by alcometer). Testing will commence immediately at each alcohol level. During testing, driving simulation and a reaction time task will be completed, while ocular parameters are measured, using optalert and electrooculography (EOG).
Sponsors
Austin Health
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
healthy, drivers licence, alcohol intake in standard drinks >0 average <5/day for males and < 3/day for females
Exclusion criteria
1. Epilepsy 2. Diabetes requiring insulin 3. Chronic psychiatric illness 4. Visual impairment which does not correct with glasses 5. Unable to speak and read English 6. Drink more than 5 caffeinated beverages per day 7. Significant daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score > 11). 8. Chronic neurological illness 9. Chronic liver disease, diabetes requiring insulin or renal impairment 10. Pregnancy or breast feeding 11. Sleep apnoea, narcolepsy 12. Use of sedating medication 13. Anticoagulation with warfarin
Outcome results
None listed