Effects of lorazepam on saccadic eye movements - evidence from prosaccade and free viewing tasks.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Peak velocities of saccadic eye movements are reduced after benzodiazepine administration. Even though this is an established effect, past research has only examined it in horizontal prosaccade tasks.

Objectives

The spectrum of saccadic eye movements, however, is much larger. Therefore, we aimed to make a first attempt at filling this research gap by testing benzodiazepine effects on saccades under different experimental task conditions.

Methods

1 mg lorazepam or placebo was administered (within-subjects, double-blind, in randomised order) to n = 30 healthy adults. Participants performed an extended version of the prosaccade task, including vertical saccade directions and different stimulus eccentricities, as well as a free viewing task.

Results

Resul

SUBMITTER: Baumert PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11775061 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature