Diazepam and Its Effects on Psychophysiological Measures of Performance.
Abstract
This study used a 5 mg oral dose of diazepam (valium) and placebo to test potential performance degradation under the influence of a minor tranquilizer. Dependent variables included a wide range of visual and auditory evoked response measures, as well as behavioral, memory, and physiological tasks that generated the measurement of 57 separate indices of human performance for each of 24 subjscts during each of four measurement of 57 separate indices of human performance for each of 24 subjects during each of four measurement sessions. These dependent variables have been chosen as standardized tasks to be included in a neurophysiological test battery currently under development and testing by the Air Force Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. This report describes the rationale for using these measures as indices of drug effects and outlines recent research using diazepam to induce performance decrements. Results of the experiment showed no generalized substantive effect at this dosage level on the performance variables studied. A multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures, a contrast statistic, and a power analysis were performed to substantiate this finding. The averaging and analysis capabilities of the test battery were successfully tested, and its use in further tests of drug/chemical nerve agent testing is planned and discussed. Keywords: Human performance; Diazepam; Valium; Test battery; Evoked response; Behavioral measures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA168750
Entities
People
- Anthony P. Rizzuto
- Glenn F. Wilson
- Regina Palmer
- Ronald E. Yates