Abstract
Skin conductance and heart rate activity were monitored in male alcoholics and normal controls before, during, and after the persenta-tion of high-intensity (100 db) white noise. Analysis of nonstressful, pre- and postnoise periods indicated a relatively nonlabile pattern characterizing alcoholics as they exhibited lower skin conductance levels than normals and showed no changes in activity either within or between resting sessions. A similar pattern was observed in response to niose-induced stress as alcoholics exhibited significantly smaller changes in skin conductance and heart rate activity.