The effects of intoxication levels of ethanol on nocturnal penile tumescence.

This 12-night case study reports the effects of intoxication levels of ethanol (e.g., blood levels > 120 mg %) on Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT). Several NPT variables were significantly reduced; however, the critical effect appeared to be a delayed latency to the first NPT. Integrating the present findings into relevant REM sleep data, the author argues that the uncritical extrapolation of NPT observations to sexual situations in the waking state, as an indication of "antisexual" effects of drugs (e.g., ethanol), may be misleading.