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The effects of dexamphetamine, sodium amobarbital and meprobamate on critical frequency of flicker under two different surround illuminations

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Summary

The effects on c.f.f. of three drugs, i.e. Sodium Amytal, Dexedrine and meprobamate, and of a placebo, were tested for two different surround luminances, one higher than, and the other about equal to the test field luminance. Separate analyses were applied to c.f.f.'s obtained in the descending and ascending series as well as on the mean of those two. They showed good agreement in general and revealed the following results:

Sodium Amytal lowered c.f.f. under both surround conditions, and Dexedrine raised it likewise under both surround conditions. Meprobamate produced effects similar to Sodium Amytal but not statistically significant. When c.f.f.'s were compared for the two surrounds, the brighter surround, under all treatments, produced lower c.f.f. than did the equal surround. Under Sodium Amytal, however, this trend appeared to be slightly more accentuated than under other drugs and the placebo, but it was not statistically significant.

The possible action of the drugs in changing the sensitivity of the central nervous system to flicker, as well as in altering the degree of the lateral interaction in the nervous system is discussed, and a plan for further research under modified conditions indicated.

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  1. Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, UK

    Satoru Aiba

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Aiba, S. The effects of dexamphetamine, sodium amobarbital and meprobamate on critical frequency of flicker under two different surround illuminations. Psychopharmacologia 1, 89–101 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409108

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