1955_abramson_3970_2.pdf

(491 KB) Pobierz
• !
_.
50C/VII
55
LSD
85
Published as
a separate and
in
The Journal of Psychology,
1955, _, 455-464.
LYSERGIC
ACID DIETHYLAMIDE
(LSD-25):
VII. EFFECT
UPON TWO
MEASURES
OF MOTOR
PERFORMANCE*
Departments o[ Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry, The Mount Sinai Hospital,
New York City
H.
A.
ABRAMSON, _I. E. JARVIK, AND _f. W. HIRSCH _
A.
INTRODUCTION
The psychic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide are so dramatic (4, 7,
10, 15) that one tends to overlook possible psychomotor changes. Our prior
experiences showed that LSD-25 produces subjective disturbances in co-
6rdination and body control (1). Studies with other dru_s have shown that
both caffeine (5, 8) and tobacco (3, 17) increase tremor as measured with some
form
of a stylus and hole apparatus.
Pursuit meter performance undergoes
impairment when subjects are under the influence of alcohol and when they
are at altitudes above 13,000
feet
(9, 11, 12). Arm-hand
co6rdination
is
reduced by altitudes above 10,000
feet
(13).
The purpose of this pa.per is to report the effects of lyser_ic acid diethyla-'
mide on performance on two tests of hand-eye co6rdination:
(a) an adap-
tation of the Dunlap steadiness test, where the subject must remain immo-
bile, and (b) the pursuit rotor test, where the subject must
follow
a mov-
ing target. It was
found
that LSD-25 interferes, to some extent, with per-
formance
on each of these tests.
B.
1.
METHOD
Subjects
There were six male and six female volunteer adults who received pay-
ment for participation in the experiments.
Only those who were considered
non-psychotic on a psychiatric interview and a battery of clinical psycho-
logical tests (1) were acceptable subiects. Intelligence as measured by the
Wechsler-Bellevue
Intelligence Scale,
ranged from
average to
superior.
Eight
subjects
were in
the
latter group. The median age was
27,
ranging from
21
to 33. Median weight was
135
pounds,
ranging from 103-175
pounds.
*Received in
the
Editorial Office on January 10, 1955, and published immediately
at
Provincetown,
Massachusetts. Copyright by The Journal
Press.
1This
investigation was aided by a grant from
the
Geschiekter Fund for Medical
Research. We are indebted
to
Sanduz Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated, for supplies
of
LSD-25
and other compounds.
455
456
JOURNAL
OF
PSYCHOLOGY
There
were
seven
graduate
students
housewives,
an auditor,
a hair-dresser,
2.
The
diameter,
a round
of
the
pursuit
rotor
consisted
of
in
psychology
or allied
fields,
and a public
relations
worker.
two
Apparatus
a
phonograph
turntable,
23.2
cm
in
which
rotated
copper button,
turntable.
The
33
1/3
and 78 revolutions
8 mm in diameter,
situated
subject
followed
this
button
arm
of the movable
an adaptation
per minute.
There
was
7.5 cm
from
the center
with
another
stylus
button
25 cm
of a hinged
8 mm in diameter,
in length.
The
steadiness
at the end
apparatus
was
of that
of Dunlap
described
by Spaeth and Dunham
(14).
It consisted of a copper plate with two holes,
8 mm and 4 mm in diameter.
The
subject
held
the
wooden handle of a
steel
stylus,
23
cm in length and
2.5
mm in diameter.
The time in contact with
the button
was
recorded
during
five continuous
10-second
trials by means
of an electric timer.
The number
of contacts and the
time
in contact with
the sides
trials.
of the
holes
were
also
3.
a.
Administration
in 75 cc of water.
apart,
under
three
o] drug.
All
subjects
different
recorded
Procedure
At 9:30 a.m.
the subjects
were tested three
times
doses.
Eight
subjects
received
the drug
at least one week
were
tested
four
during
five
continuous
10-second
drug
times.
The first and
fourth
75 cc of water was given
to
the
subjects
received
50 and
sessions
were zero dose placebos
where only
the
subjects.
At the
second
and third
sessions
100
micrograms
of
lyserglc
acid
diethylamide,
respectively.
Since
LSD-25
is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless compound
the
subjects
could not detect
the
dose they received.
The first placebo experiment
served
as a control of the effects produced
by variables other
than
the drug.
The
second
placebo helped evaluate
the
effects of
repeated
practice in
the
same
experimental
situation
with
the same tests.
Two
The
had
experimenters
The
gave the drug
doses
took
and
among
place
interviewed.
the
(and
the tests)
usually
hour
to
the subjects
varied
room
after
where
the
in
groups
day.
,
of
ate
and
the subjects
ingestion
of 3, 4, or 5.
been
group
in a
given
administration
pre-tested
in an air-conditioned
One-half
the drug the
subjects,
who had eaten no
food since
the previous evening,
a light breakfast.
No
stimulants
such
as coffee or tea were permitted
smoking
b.
was not allowed
Administration
during
of tests.
the
entire
The
test period.
and
steadiness
pursuit-rotor
tests were
H.
A.
ABRAMSON,
M.
E.
JARVIK,
AND
M.
W.
HIRSCH
457
administered individually approximately 2 to 2_ hours after administration
of the dru_. This was within the time range of maximum dru_ effect (1).
They were preceded by a series of group tests of memory, cancellation, arith-
metic, and spatial relations. The pursuit rotor test was given while the sub-
ject was standing. The instructions were: "You are to try to keep the point
of
the
stylus in contact with the moving button." The subject then attempt-
ed to
follow
the button rotating at
33
1/3 revolutions per minute. The
time
(in seconds) in contact with the button was recorded every 10 seconds
for
50 seconds. Without warning the subject, the experimenter abruptly increased
the turntable speed
from
33 1/3 revolutions per minute
to
78 revolutions
per minute. The time was recorded every 10 seconds
for
50 seconds.
In the steadiness test the subject sat behind the copper plate and was given
the
following
instructions: "Keeping your arm extended, you are to insert
the stylus through the large hole to a depth of about one inch and hold it
there without touching the sides of the hole." The number of contacts and
the time (in seconds) in contact with the sides of the hole were recorded
every 10 seconds for 50 seconds. The subject then held the stylus in the
small hole and another five 10-second recordings were taken. The 33 1/3
rpm sub-test on
the
pursuit rotor and
the
small hole steadiness tests were
added to
the
battery after
the
first experimental day, thereby reducing the
number of subjects whose data were available
for
statistical analysis.
c.
zlnalysis of
data.
The average
period under each dose was computed
tests. The average number of contacts
puted
for
each dose. The averages
for
of subjects who were not
tested
at all
The
scores obtained
time in contact
during the
for
the pursuit rotor and
on the steadiness
tests
was
a
given test did not include
three doses.
50-second
steadiness
also com-
the
data
under the
first
three doses on each of these tests were
.
compared,
two
at a time, by means of the Wilcoxon non-parametric
test of
paired replicates (16) to determine whether there were significant differ-
ences between any two doses. This
technique
was
also
used to determine
whether there
was
any significant improvement
occurring with
practice
on the test. The pre-drug zero scores and the post-drug zero scores were
compared.
The Spearman rank-order correlation (6)
tion of the subject's scores under two doses.
two at a time. The correlation indicates the
under one dose
from
the rank position under
method
related
the rank posi-
The three doses were related,
predictability of a rank position
another.
"
458
JOURNAL
OF
PSYCHOLOGY
C.
Figure
the subjects
The
longer
1 shows
were
the
the mean
in contact
number
with
RESULTS
of seconds
out of 50 seconds
on the pursuit
At
in which
rotor
33 1/3
test.
rpm
the
copper
the better
button
time in contact
the performance.
z:
_
cn
33
1/3
RPM
78
RPM
Z
Z
0
Ul
Z
2
_ I
0
DOSES
I.,SD-Z$
I
50
IN
MICROGRAMS
I
100
Mean
time
tested
under
FIGURE
1
in
contact,
in
S0-seeond
period,
with
zero
and two
LSD-25
doses
at
33
1/3
rotating
button.
Nine
rpm and
11
subjects
subjects
were
at
78
rpm.
the mean
drug
zero
time in contact
and
under
doses
remained
At
approximately
of LSD-25,
78
rpm
it increased
100
trials,
with
the mean
the same
but
dropped
under
slightly
the pre-
under
dropped
dose aver-
50 micrograms
100 micrograms
slightly
age
with
of the drug.
time in contact
above
the
the zero
number
of 50 micrograms;
5 times
in
with doses of
100
micrograms.
All
of these changes could have occurred
more
than
of subjects
by chance
78 rpm
used. There were nine subjects tested at 33 I/3 _m and 11 subjects at
under
all three doses.
I-[.
A.
ABRA.'VISON,
.xf.
E.
JARVIK,
AND
M.
W.
HIRSCH
459
large
with
On the
steadiness
tests
the
time
and
small
holes is plotted in Figure
in contact
with
the sides
of the
2. The
time
in contact increased
increasing
dosage.
The
time
in contact with
the sides
of
the small
hole was
always greater
than the time in contact
with the
sides
of the large hole,
25_
OB
......
.-
SMALL HOLE
-- LARGE HOLE
z
O
o
m
u'J
zc_
s J
0
r_
_
I.-,
,
z
I
0
DOSES
LSD-Z_
50
IN
MICROGRAMS
l
100
I
FIGURE
2
Mean time in contact, in
50-second
period,
with
the sides of a large and
small
hole.
Twelve subjects were tested under zero and
two
LSD-25 doses with the large hole
and
eight
with the
small
hole.
"
•
regardless of dose. None of these changes was significant
at
the
.05
level or
better, with
the
N
used. Twelve subjects were tested with the large hole and
eight with the small hole.
The mean number of contacts made with the
sides
of the large and small
holes appears in Figure 3. There was an increasing number of contacts made
with the sides of the large hole with increasing doses. The maximum aver-
age number of contacts with the sides of the small hole was made under 50
micrograms of the drug. These changes could have occurred by chance more

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin