title: Effects of atropine and 2-PAM chloride on vision and performance in humans.
abstract: These experiments assessed the time course and severity of effects of atropine and 2-PAM chloride on selected visual functions, physiological measures, and a tracking performance task. Atropine up to 4 mg X 70 kg-1 body weight and 2-PAM Cl in doses up to 1200 mg X 70 kg-1 body weight were administered intramuscularly in a double-blind Latin square design. A long lasting and dose-related increase in pupillary diameter and decrease in accommodative amplitude with accompanying loss of near visual acuity was found following atropine administration. These functions returned to baseline 2 d after injection. Distance acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision, and intraocular pressure showed no changes after atropine. Tracking performance was significantly decreased by 4 mg of atropine. The changes in vision function cannot readily explain the tracking performance loss, since the tracking involved a distant visual target while the atropine produced degradation of near vision. Most of the physiological tests, tracking performance and all visual functions were unaffected by 2-PAM Cl.
mesh_terms: D000065:Accommodation, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003118:Color Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011220:Pralidoxime Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011220:Pralidoxime Compounds; D001285:Atropine; C028797:pralidoxime