Philine M Baumert, Kaja Faßbender, Maximilian W M Wintergerst, Jan H Terheyden, Behrem Aslan, Tom Foulsham, Wolf Harmening, Ulrich Ettinger
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Rationale: Peak velocities of saccadic eye movements are reduced after benzodiazepine administration. Even though this is an established effect, past research has only examined it in horizontal prosaccade tasks.
Objectives: The spectrum of saccadic eye movements, however, is much larger. Therefore, we aimed to make a first attempt at filling this research gap by testing benzodiazepine effects on saccades under different experimental task conditions.
Methods: 1 mg lorazepam or placebo was administered (within-subjects, double-blind, in randomised order) to n = 30 healthy adults. Participants performed an extended version of the prosaccade task, including vertical saccade directions and different stimulus eccentricities, as well as a free viewing task.
Results: Results from the prosaccade task confirmed established effects of benzodiazepines as well as saccade direction on saccadic parameters but additionally showed that the drug effect on peak velocity was independent of saccade direction. Remarkably, in the free viewing task peak velocities as well as other saccade parameters were unaffected by lorazepam. Furthermore, exploration patterns during free viewing did not change under lorazepam.
Conclusions: Overall, our findings further consolidate the peak velocity of prosaccades as a biomarker of sedation. Additionally, we suggest that sedative effects of low doses of benzodiazepines may be compensated in tasks that more closely resemble natural eye movement behaviour, possibly due to the lack of time constraints or via neurophysiological processes related to volition.
期刊介绍：
Official Journal of the European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (EBPS)
Psychopharmacology is an international journal that covers the broad topic of elucidating mechanisms by which drugs affect behavior. The scope of the journal encompasses the following fields:
Human Psychopharmacology: Experimental
This section includes manuscripts describing the effects of drugs on mood, behavior, cognition and physiology in humans. The journal encourages submissions that involve brain imaging, genetics, neuroendocrinology, and developmental topics. Usually manuscripts in this section describe studies conducted under controlled conditions, but occasionally descriptive or observational studies are also considered.
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Translational
This section comprises studies addressing the broad intersection of drugs and psychiatric illness. This includes not only clinical trials and studies of drug usage and metabolism, drug surveillance, and pharmacoepidemiology, but also work utilizing the entire range of clinically relevant methodologies, including neuroimaging, pharmacogenetics, cognitive science, biomarkers, and others. Work directed toward the translation of preclinical to clinical knowledge is especially encouraged. The key feature of submissions to this section is that they involve a focus on clinical aspects.
Preclinical psychopharmacology: Behavioral and Neural
This section considers reports on the effects of compounds with defined chemical structures on any aspect of behavior, in particular when correlated with neurochemical effects, in species other than humans. Manuscripts containing neuroscientific techniques in combination with behavior are welcome. We encourage reports of studies that provide insight into the mechanisms of drug action, at the behavioral and molecular levels.
Preclinical Psychopharmacology: Translational
This section considers manuscripts that enhance the confidence in a central mechanism that could be of therapeutic value for psychiatric or neurological patients, using disease-relevant preclinical models and tests, or that report on preclinical manipulations and challenges that have the potential to be translated to the clinic. Studies aiming at the refinement of preclinical models based upon clinical findings (back-translation) will also be considered. The journal particularly encourages submissions that integrate measures of target tissue exposure, activity on the molecular target and/or modulation of the targeted biochemical pathways.
Preclinical Psychopharmacology: Molecular, Genetic and Epigenetic
This section focuses on the molecular and cellular actions of neuropharmacological agents / drugs, and the identification / validation of drug targets affecting the CNS in health and disease. We particularly encourage studies that provide insight into the mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level. Manuscripts containing evidence for genetic or epigenetic effects on neurochemistry or behavior are welcome.
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