L-dopa and arousal.
In 10 patients with Parkinsonism, treatment with L-dopa was associated with a rise in the skin conductance level and its fluctuations, an increased electromyographic activity in the frontalis muscle, and with faster reaction times. The change of skin conductance in response to a loud noise also increased and its habituation to the repetition of the stimulus was delayed. One patient developed a schizophreniform psychosis and showed high arousal and absent habituation. It is possible that dopamine is the transmitter associated with the arousal reaction and that it plays a part in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
D000368:Aged; D001143:Arousal; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009949:Orientation; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time; D012018:Reflex
D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine