Study of Audio – Visual Reaction Time in Chronic Smokers and Alcoholic Males

Anita Jain; Manisha Sankhla; Keerti Mathur

Volume : VI, Issue : VI, June - 2017

Study of Audio – Visual Reaction Time in Chronic Smokers and Alcoholic Males

Anita Jain, Manisha Sankhla, Keerti Mathur

Abstract :

The consumption of alcohol and cigarette smoking is most common and serious problem, worldwide. Apart from various factors such as age, sex, left v/s right hand practice, number of stimuli, reaction time is also affected by smoking and alcohol consumption. The aim of the present study is to measure and compare Auditory & Visual reaction time between study groups (smoker, alcoholic, smoker with alcoholic) and control group. Methods: The present study involved 360 subjects in the age group of 30–60 years, both smoker and alcoholic, recruited from medicine OPD from S.M.S Hospital, Jaipur (Rajasthan). Out of total 360 subjects: – 90 were smoker, 90 were alcoholic, 90 were smoker with alcoholic and 90 were control subjects. Data were statistically analyzed by student�s unpaired�t� test, one way ANOVA and post hoc tukey test. Results: In this study, visual reaction time (sec.) (VRT) with left hand (red and green light) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in alcoholics and smoker with alcoholics when compared with controls while with right hand, visual reaction time increased significantly in smoker with alcoholics and smokers. On Post hoc analysis, smoking was found to be main factor affecting VRT (red and green light) for right hand while for left hand it was alcoholism. Results of auditory reaction time (sec.) (low and high pitch) were statistically non–significant with both left and right hand. Conclusion: VRT (red and green light) was highest in smoker with alcoholics indicating delayed response in smoker and alcoholic group which get further aggravated in smoker with alcoholic subjects.