Sub-optimal vigilance in patients with complete heart block: Influence of cardiac pacing and a “nootropic” substance

Abstract

• 1.

  1. Mental performance of patients with artificial pacemakers was found to be impaired when the heart rate was lowered from 70 to 45 beats per minute in sitting position.

• 2.

  2. The same lowering of the heart rate caused less impairment in supine body position.

• 3.

  3. These findings are discussed with regard to cerebral blood flow; the impairment of performance at the lower heart rate being interpreted as caused by cerebral hypoxia.

• 4.

  4. Under the same conditions Piracetam seems to have an effect which not only counteracts hypoxia, but also brings about enhancement of performance in some other way.

• 5.

  5. The above mentioned findings seem to manifest themselves in EEG's evaluated by means of Spectral Parameter Analysis.