Abstract
Electrical brain activity (contingent negative variation or CNV) and psychomotor behavior (reaction time or RT) were measured after 50 mg of chlorpromazine (CPZ) or placebo were given orally to 28 normal women. CPZ reduced CNV 2 and 3 hrs post-drug and slowed RT 3 hrs post-drug. CNV amplitude appears to be an accurate indicator of drug-produced changes in alertness.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bradley, P. B., Key, B. J.: A comparative study of the effects of drugs on the arousal system of the brain. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 14, 340–349 (1959)
Davis, J. M., Cole, J. O.: Antipsychotic drugs. In: Comprehensive textbook of psychiatry. A. Freedman, H. I. Kaplan, and B. J. Sadock, eds. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins (in press)
Fink, M.: Quantitative EEG in human psychopharmacology: Drug patterns. In: EEG and behavior, G. H. Glaser, ed., pp. 177–197. New York: Basic Books 1963
Hablitz, J. J., Borda, R. P.: The effects of dalmane (flurazepam hydrochloride) on the contingent negative variation. In: Event-related slow potentials of the brain: Their relations to behavior. W. C. McCallum and J. R. Knott, eds., Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., Suppl. 33, 317–320 (1973)
Kornetsky, C., Humphries, O.: Psychological effects of centrally acting drugs in man. Effects of chlorpromazine and secobarbital on visual and motor behavior. J. ment. Sci. 104, 1093–1099 (1958)
Mirsky, A. F., Tecce, J. J.: The relationship between EEG and impaired attention following administration of centrally-acting drugs. Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsycho-pharmacologicum, pp. 638–645 (1966)
Saletu, B., Saletu, M., Itil, T.: Effect of minor and major tranquilizers on somatosensory evoked potentials. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 24, 347–358 (1972)
Tecce, J. J., Cole, J. O.: Psychophysiologic responses of schizophrenics to drugs. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 24, 159–200 (1972)
Tecce, J. J., Cole, J. O.: Amphetamine effects in man: Paradoxical drowsiness and lowered electrical brain activity (CNV). Science 185, 451–453 (1974)
Walter, W. G., Cooper, R., Aldridge, V. J., McCallum, W. C., Winter, A. L.: Contingent negative variation: An electric sign of sensorimotor association and expectancy in the human brain. Nature (Lond.) 203, 380–384 (1964)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by USPHS research grants MH-19211 (JJT) and MH-16128 (JOC) from the National Institute of Mental Health. We are grateful to Mary Jean Edwards, Lauren Nagle, Debbie Meinbresse, and Joanne Montagna for their competent research assistance.
Research Scientist Development Awardee 1-K02-00016 of the National Institute of Mental Health.
Psychiatrist to McLean Hospital and Clinical Director of Research, Boston State Hospital.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tecce, J.J., Cole, J.O. & Savignano-Bowman, J. Chlorpromazine effects on brain activity (contingent negative variation) and reaction time in normal women. Psychopharmacologia 43, 293–295 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429268
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429268