title: Single-dose piracetam effects on global complexity measures of human spontaneous multichannel EEG.
abstract: Global complexity of 47-channel resting electroencephalogram (EEG) of healthy young volunteers was studied after intake of a single dose of a nootropic drug (piracetam, Nootropil UCB Pharma) in 12 healthy volunteers. Four treatment levels were used: 2.4, 4.8, 9.6 g piracetam and placebo. Brain electric activity was assessed through Global Dimensional Complexity and Global Omega-Complexity as quantitative measures of the complexity of the trajectory of multichannel EEG in state space. After oral ingestion (1-1.5 h), both measures showed significant decreases from placebo to 2.4 g piracetam. In addition, Global Dimensional Complexity showed a significant return to placebo values at 9.6 g piracetam. The results indicate that a single dose of piracetam dose-dependently affects the spontaneous EEG in normal volunteers, showing effects at the lowest treatment level. The decreased EEG complexity is interpreted as increased cooperativity of brain functional processes.
authors.affiliation: The KEY Institute for Brain-Mind Research, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kondakor
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wackermann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peuvot
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lehmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010889:Piracetam