title: Effect of beta-blockers on psychomotor performance in normal volunteers.
abstract: The effects of beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists on psychometric tests including vehicle handling, choice reaction time, and kinetic visual acuity (KVA), are reviewed. The beta-blockers had little effect on the performance tests, with the unexplained but reproducible effect of enhanced KVA performance with atenolol. Although the beta-blockers had little effect on performance tests they were shown to have psychotropic effects in normal volunteers. The reasons for the conflicting evidence concerning the effect of these drugs on performance tests is discussed in relation to the present experiments and to variables that may influence response. It is concluded that one should use tests that are as independent as possible from potentially confounding variables. The use of evoked potentials in the electroencephalogram is one such test. A preliminary study is described in which the effects of beta-blockers were detected using visual evoked responses on the electroencephalogram.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Betts
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mortiboy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012016:Reference Values; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D001262:Atenolol; D008750:Methyldopa; D012110:Reserpine; D011433:Propranolol; D008790:Metoprolol; D003975:Diazepam