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Effects of a sedative and of a non-sedative H1-antihistamine on the event-related potential (ERP) in normal volunteers

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Abstract

Measurements of the amplitude and latency of the P3b component of the event-related potential (ERP), simple reaction time (SRT) and four psychomotor tests (VAS, DSST, DSp and CFF) were made on 12 male subjects (aged 19–24 year) 1.0–1.5 and 4.0–4.5 h after single oral doses of triprolidine (7.5 mg), terfenadine (60 mg) and placebo. Neither triprolidine nor terfenadine changed P3b amplitude or latency although VAS, CFF and DSST scores were significantly altered by triprolidine at 1.0–1.5 h after dosage. These results suggest that the P3b is too robust to reflect the mild sedative properties of an H1-receptor antihistamine, or that H1-receptors are not involved in P3b generation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK

    F. M. M. Swire, C. A. Marsden & A. T. Birmingham

  2. Department of Medical Physics, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK

    C. Barber

Authors
  1. F. M. M. Swire
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  2. C. A. Marsden
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  3. C. Barber
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  4. A. T. Birmingham
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Additional information

It is with deep regret that we have to record that Miss Flora Swire was killed in the Lockerbie air disaster in December 1988

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Swire, F.M.M., Marsden, C.A., Barber, C. et al. Effects of a sedative and of a non-sedative H1-antihistamine on the event-related potential (ERP) in normal volunteers. Psychopharmacology 98, 425–429 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00451699

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00451699

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