Inhibition of the startle reaction by physostigmine in patients with early brain damage.
The influence of physostigmine and atropine on the startle reaction and EEG epileptic paroxysmal activity was examined in 24 severely impaired children with early brain damage. The startle motor reaction could be regularly evoked by tapping on the sternum in 12 of the patients. Physostigmine inhibited this reaction significantly, while atropine was without effect. In 12 patients without a previous startle reaction, atropine had a possible activating effect, however, the result was not significant. Physostigmine had no effect. The EEG paroxysmal activity was inhibited by physostigmine and activated by atropine in both groups of patients. A cholinergic system disturbance was suggested in the pathophysiology of the paroxysmal activity. The disturbance which is probably present in early brain damage, is presumed to be also involved in the genesis of the startle reaction.
Rektor
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Neurologic Clinic, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechoslovakia.
Svejdová
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D000293:Adolescent; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000187:drug effects; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D001285:Atropine; D010830:Physostigmine