Abstract
A procedure is described for the clinical assay of hypnotics and a comparative study of two drugs in humans: Hoe 264 (Hoechst) and heptobarbital (Medomin R) is reported. This procedure measures the changes in psychological, motor and autonomic responses, as well as the electrical activity of the CNS. Several variables were used including two for the measurement of the degree of vigilance: the sustained attention and a time-interval estimation. Another three variables were used for motor responses and electrical activity of the CNS: EEG, arm muscle contraction, and reaction time. In addition the following variables were used for the study of the changes on autonomic activity: pneumogram, EKG, galvanic skin resistance, and blood pressure.
In our experimental conditions the hypnotic drugs were acting against an alertness state which could be measured objectively. This situation allows the detection of the slight variations which precede sleep, and permits the discrimination among at least three stages of consciousness: alertness, somnolence and sleep.
The tested new drug (Hoe 264) can be considered as a non-toxic substance with hypnotic properties.
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This work was partially supported by Grants from Química Hoechst de México and from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
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Fernandez-Guardiola, A., de Tejada, A.L., Contreras, C. et al. Polygraphic study in man to differentiate sleep-inducing action of hypnotics. Psychopharmacologia 26, 285–295 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422704
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422704