Central effects of sildenafil (Viagra) on auditory selective attention and verbal recognition memory in humans: a study with event-related brain potentials.
The purpose of this study was to assess possible central side-effects of sildenafil (Viagra) on attention and memory functions. Sildenafil and placebo were administered in young male subjects in a double-blind balanced cross-over design. Behavioral patterns and event-related brain potentials (ERP) were recorded in a spatial auditory attention and a visual word recognition task. While behavioral patterns did not reveal any overt effects of sildenafil, auditory ERPs were indicative of an enhanced ability to focus attention (amplitude enhancement of Nd-effect) and to select relevant target stimuli in the sildenafil condition (P3 component). In the memory task, CNS-effects of sildenafil were evident in a reduction of a negativity in the 150-250 ms range. No overt effects on behavior were observed. Nevertheless, the data reveal CNS-effects of sildenafil necessitating further studies.
Schultheiss
D
D
Department of Urology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Müller
S V
SV
Nager
W
W
Stief
C G
CG
Schlote
N
N
Jonas
U
U
Asvestis
C
C
Johannes
S
S
Münte
T F
TF
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate