Effects of Methamphetamine on Vigilance and Tracking during Extended Wakefulness.
Abstract
We examine the effects of a 10 mg/70 kg oral dose of d- methamphetamine HCI on high-event-rate vigilance and tracking performance in a 13.5-h sustained-performance session during a night of sleep loss. At 0 1 16 hours, seven subjects were administered d-methamphetamine, double-blind. The remaining six subjects were given a placebo. Values of sensitivity (d) in the vigilance task declined markedly during the night in the placebo group. The methamphetamine treatment reversed an initial decline in d' within approximately 2 h of administration. The methamphetamine treatment also reversed increases in nonresponses (lapses) within approximately 2 h of administration. Tracking performance also declined markedly during the night in the placebo group. The methamphetamine treatment reversed the decline in tracking performance. An analysis of fast guesses in the vigilance experiment disclosed no evidence to suggest that methamphetamine tended to increase impulsive responding. In fact, the methamphetamine treatment was associated with a small (and nonsignificant) reduction in fast guesses. The overall pattern of the results suggests that methamphetamine at 10 mg/70 kg produces genuine increases in efficiency that effectively counteract the effects of continuous work during a night of sleep loss. Human performance, Sustained operations, SUSOPs, Sustained performance continuous operations, CONOPs, Continuous performance, Stimulant drugs, Amphetamine, Sleep deprivation, Sleepiness, Fatigue, Memory.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA274896
Entities
People
- A. H. Mccardie
- D. F. Neri
- R. R. Stanny
Organizations
- Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory