PMID- 16374601
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20060614
LR  - 20181113
IS  - 0033-3158 (Print)
IS  - 0033-3158 (Linking)
VI  - 184
IP  - 2
DP  - 2006 Jan
TI  - Some facilitatory effects of lorazepam on dynamic visual binding.
PG  - 229-38
AB  - RATIONALE: The benzodiazepine lorazepam enhances the potential for inhibitory 
      gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) synapses in the cortex to stabilize postsynaptic, 
      excitatory activity by synchronizing discharge rates at frequencies of around 40 
      Hz. Treatment with lorazepam also affects contour integration processes, 
      suggesting that GABAA-mediated synchronization plays a role in visuospatial 
      organization. This conclusion is supported by other physiological studies that 
      link visual feature integration with neuronal synchronization. OBJECTIVES: One 
      experiment was conducted to assess variations in dynamic figural priming as a 
      result of lorazepam administration. METHODS: Observers were presented a modified 
      version of a figural priming paradigm designed to investigate the effects of 
      dynamic synchronization on visual feature integration. The priming paradigm 
      consisted of premask crosses presented in a square arrangement within the same 
      phase of a multiphase premask matrix oscillating at 40 Hz. Observers responded to 
      a subsequently presented target square. The modification consisted of line 
      elements presented at various distances relative to the unspecified extension of 
      the lines making up the premask crosses. It was expected that priming effects 
      would be enhanced for lines terminating close to the unspecified extension but 
      only following administration of lorazepam. RESULTS: As anticipated, priming was 
      enhanced substantially when the premask crosses flickered around static lines 
      that terminated adjacent to the unspecified extension between the premask 
      crosses. This effect was maximal following treatment with lorazepam. CONCLUSIONS: 
      This finding supports the idea that GABAA-enhanced inhibitory synchronization 
      mediates continuity coding during early visual processing.
FAU - Elliott, Mark A
AU  - Elliott MA
AD  - Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. 
      mark.elliot@nuigalway.ie
FAU - Giersch, Anne
AU  - Giersch A
FAU - Seifert, Doerthe
AU  - Seifert D
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Randomized Controlled Trial
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
DEP - 20051223
PL  - Germany
TA  - Psychopharmacology (Berl)
JT  - Psychopharmacology
JID - 7608025
RN  - 0 (GABA Modulators)
RN  - O26FZP769L (Lorazepam)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - Cortical Synchronization
MH  - Female
MH  - GABA Modulators/*pharmacology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Lorazepam/*pharmacology
MH  - Male
MH  - Photic Stimulation
MH  - Psychomotor Performance/drug effects
MH  - Reaction Time/drug effects
MH  - Visual Perception/*drug effects
EDAT- 2005/12/24 09:00
MHDA- 2006/06/15 09:00
CRDT- 2005/12/24 09:00
PHST- 2005/08/02 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2005/10/15 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2005/12/24 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2006/06/15 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2005/12/24 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1007/s00213-005-0242-x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2006 Jan;184(2):229-38. doi: 
      10.1007/s00213-005-0242-x. Epub 2005 Dec 23.