Effect of scopolamine on spontaneous yawning in men.
The effect of scopolamine hydrobromide (0.4 mg s.c.) on spontaneous yawning was studied in 16 male volunteers in a double-blind study. Scopolamine (or placebo) was given 60 min before (-60 min) placebo (physiological saline s.c.) (time 0 min) and yawning monitored from -15 to +60 min by recording displacement of the lower jaw and storing the traces on diskettes. After placebo, the number of yawns was 5.3 +/- 1.4 (means +/- SE) and after scopolamine pretreatment 4.3 +/- 1.6 (p = NS). Drowsiness was assessed with the Stanford Sleepiness Scale and the Analog Sleepiness Scale at -15, 0, +20, +40, +60 min. There was no significant correlation between total sleepiness scores (area under the curve, 0 min to +60 min), peak sleepiness score or peak increment in sleepiness score and number of yawns on either scale. These data suggest that (a) spontaneous yawning in man is not mediated by a central muscarinic cholinergic link, and (b) the assumed relationship between drowsiness and yawning remains to be verified experimentally.
Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, Què, Canada.
A
A
Skorzewska
Y
Y
Tesfaye
B
B
Krishnan
G
G
Schwartz
J
J
Thavundayil
S
S
Lal
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D015000:Yawning / Q000187:drug effects*
D012601:Scopolamine