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The Effect of Atenolol on Reaction Times and Concentration

  • Section 6: β-Blockade and the Central Nervous System
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Summary

Visual reaction time and choice reaction time were determined after combined physical and mental stress to examine the influence of the β- adrenoceptor blocking agent atenolol on driving- related abilities. Electro- oculography was used in 2 groups of males in a double- blind crossover study, after three days of placebo or 50mg of atenolol. In the first group of subjects in both periods of the experimental design, visual reaction time was longer with placebo than during treatment with atenolol; their interquartile differences as measures of the concentration of the subjects showed the same effect. The beneficial effects of treatment were small, but highly significant. In the second group there was no effect of atenolol on visual reaction lime, choice reaction time or the number of correct reactions per time period. From both studies it is concluded that atenolol does not impair either reaction times or concentration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aviation Medicine Division, Surgeon General, German Air Force, Cologne, West Germany

    D. Harms & E. Pachale

  2. German Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine, Furstenfeldbruck, West Germany

    D. Harms & E. Pachale

Authors
  1. D. Harms
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  2. E. Pachale
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Harms, D., Pachale, E. The Effect of Atenolol on Reaction Times and Concentration. Drugs 25 (Suppl 2), 265–267 (1983). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198300252-00081

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198300252-00081

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