Triazolam impairs inhibitory control of behavior in humans.
This study tested the effects of the sedative-hypnotic drug triazolam (Halcion) on the ability to inhibit behavior in humans. Thirty adults practiced a stop-signal task that measured their ability to inhibit and activate behavioral responses on a choice reaction time task. Equal numbers of participants (i.e., n = 10) then received either 0.25 mg, 0.125 mg, or 0 mg (placebo) of triazolam under double-blind conditions and performed the task intermittently over a 3-hr period. In accord with the hypothesis, triazolam reduced response inhibitions and increased the time required to inhibit a response. The drug also slowed the activation of responses. The findings contribute to the understanding of the basic behavioral mechanisms by which sedative-hypnotic drugs can produce states of behavioral disinhibition in some individuals.
Fillmore
M T
MT
Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506-0044, USA. mtfill2@pop.uky.edu
Rush
C R
CR
Kelly
T H
TH
Hays
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D014229:Triazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014229:Triazolam