Biomedical subjects

L Lonardi

Publications and source records attributed to L Lonardi.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Effects of caffeine deprivation on complex human functioning.

Twenty-five managers who reported an average daily caffeine consumption of 575 mg participated in two complex simulations. A double-blind cross-over design was employed to assess the effects of normal caffeine consumption versus caffeine deprivation upon seven validated measures of managerial effectiveness. Data from a Caffeine Withdrawal Questionnaire indicated discomfort upon deprivation. Systolic blood pressure increased during "normal" caffeine consumption levels but fell quickly and remained lower during deprivation. Several measures of managerial performance indicated decreased effectiveness upon caffeine deprivation. In contrast to prior research from simpler task settings, cognitive effectiveness (during complex task performance) was diminished. However, a measure of strategic performance which requires a relatively high level of cognitive effort showed no impact of caffeine deprivation.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Alcohol hangover and managerial effectiveness.

Twenty-one male managers who normally drink moderate amounts of alcohol participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over experiment. Subjects consumed either placebo or alcoholic drinks to attain a breath alcohol level of 0.10 during the evening before participation in Strategic Management Simulations. By the time of arrival at the simultaion laboratory on the following morning, breath alcohol levels were measured at 0.00. Questionnaire responses indicated considerable hangover discomfort. Responses to semantic differential evaluative scales suggested that research participants evaluated their own managerial performance in the simulation setting as impaired. However, multiple (validated) measures of decision-making performance obtained in the simulation task did not show any deterioration of functioning. Previous research had shown considerable performance decrements in the same task setting, while blood/breath alcohol levels ranged from 0.05 through 0.10%. Apparently, complex decision-making competence by persons who normally consume moderate amounts of alcohol may not be impaired by hangover caused by intoxication during the previous evening that remains at or below a blood alcohol level of 0.10.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Alcohol and managerial performance.

Effects of alcohol intoxication at .05 and .10 breath alcohol concentration upon a number of validated indicators of managerial performance were investigated in a double-blind crossover placebo-controlled simulation design. Managers (N = 48) spent 2 days handling quasi-experimental (partially event-controlled) tasks that permitted realistic managerial decision making under both "normal" and "emergency" conditions. The data showed that speed and frequency of managerial action were affected by alcohol at the .10 but not the .05 level. Strategy and planning deteriorated at both levels. Limited improvement of performance was observed for one simpler component of managerial functioning at the lower intoxication level, possibly due to myopia and/or a motivated "strain" toward better performance induced by the perception of impairment.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Effects of alcohol intoxication on risk taking, strategy, and error rate in visuomotor performance.

Adult men (N = 44) participated for 2 days (alcohol vs. placebo treatment) in a double-blind, crossover experiment. Performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Task (DSST) and a visuomotor (VM) task was measured 4 times each day. On the alcohol-treatment day, data were obtained once during ascending breath alcohol levels (BALs), once during maximal BALs (0.05 or 0.10), and twice during descending BALs. Data were collected at the same time points on the placebo-treatment day. Limited evidence for acute tolerance was obtained with the DSST, but error rates on the VM task were higher during maximal and descending BALs. Error rates remained near placebo values, and participants displayed slightly greater caution, while BALs were ascending. Strategy scores on the VM task exceeded placebo scores during maximal intoxication. Data interpretation is focused on individuals in higher level (e.g., professional) positions.

Adult↗