The effects of different doses of caffeine on habituation of the human acoustic startle reflex. 1995

E J Schicatano, and T D Blumenthal
Neuroscience Program, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.

Research in this laboratory showed that caffeine (4 mg/kg) delays habituation of the acoustic startle reflex in humans. The present study examined the effects of 2- and 6-mg/kg doses of caffeine on acoustic startle habituation in moderate-high and low caffeine users. Eyeblink responses to 30 trials of 85-dB noise stimuli were measured beginning 30 min after oral ingestion of either placebo or 2 or 6 mg/kg of caffeine. The 2-mg/kg dose of caffeine delayed startle habituation in both moderate-high and low caffeine users. The 6-mg/kg dose produced no differential effects on startle responding from placebo. In moderate-high users, following habituation, startle responding was smaller in the placebo condition compared to both caffeine conditions. In low users there were no differences in posthabituation responding between doses, suggesting that this dose effect is dependent on a history of chronic caffeine usage.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D001767 Blinking Brief closing of the eyelids by involuntary normal periodic closing, as a protective measure, or by voluntary action. Orbicularis Oculi Reflex,Reflex, Blink,Reflex, Corneal,Reflex, Orbicularis Oculi,Winking,Blink Reflexes,Corneal Reflexes,Orbicularis Oculi Reflexes,Blink Reflex,Reflexes, Blink,Reflexes, Orbicularis Oculi
D002110 Caffeine A methylxanthine naturally occurring in some beverages and also used as a pharmacological agent. Caffeine's most notable pharmacological effect is as a central nervous system stimulant, increasing alertness and producing agitation. It also relaxes SMOOTH MUSCLE, stimulates CARDIAC MUSCLE, stimulates DIURESIS, and appears to be useful in the treatment of some types of headache. Several cellular actions of caffeine have been observed, but it is not entirely clear how each contributes to its pharmacological profile. Among the most important are inhibition of cyclic nucleotide PHOSPHODIESTERASES, antagonism of ADENOSINE RECEPTORS, and modulation of intracellular calcium handling. 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine,Caffedrine,Coffeinum N,Coffeinum Purrum,Dexitac,Durvitan,No Doz,Percoffedrinol N,Percutaféine,Quick-Pep,Vivarin,Quick Pep,QuickPep
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005260 Female Females
D006185 Habituation, Psychophysiologic The disappearance of responsiveness to a repeated stimulation. It does not include drug habituation. Habituation (Psychophysiology),Habituation, Psychophysiological,Psychophysiologic Habituation,Psychophysiological Habituation,Habituations (Psychophysiology)
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000161 Acoustic Stimulation Use of sound to elicit a response in the nervous system. Auditory Stimulation,Stimulation, Acoustic,Stimulation, Auditory
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

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