Neuropeptide MSH/ACTH 4–10 enhances attention in the mentally retarded

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior Vol. 5; no. Suppl 1; pp. 23 - 28
• Main Authors: Sandman, Curt A., George, Jack, Walker, Barbara B., Nolan, J.Dennis, Kastin, Abba J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 1976
• Subjects: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - pharmacology; Adult; Attention; Attention - drug effects; Behavioral effects of peptides; Concept learning; Discrimination Learning - drug effects; Disorders of attention; Heart - drug effects; Heart Rate - drug effects; Humans; Intellectual Disability - physiopathology; Learning - drug effects; Male; Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones - pharmacology; Mentally retarted; Orienting response; Peptide Fragments - pharmacology; Reversal Learning - drug effects; Task Performance and Analysis; Vision, Ocular; Concept learning; Orienting response; Disorders of attention; Behavioral effects of peptides; Attention; Mentally retarted
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(76)90324-5

Twenty adult mentally retarded men were randomly assigned to receive MSH/ACTH 4–10 or a vehicle control solution in a double blind procedure. After an intravenous injection the subjects were presentedd with an orienting sequence and a series of behavioral tests. Treatment with the peptide resulted in a significant decelerative heart rate response during the test stimulus of the orienting sequence. Improved performance of the intradimensional and extradimensional shift of a visual discrimination procedure was significant for subjects receiving MSH/ACTH 4–10. The pattern of response on the subproblem analysis of the extradimensional shift reflected greater dimensional attention in the subjects treated with the peptide. Attentive subjects given MSH/ACTH 4–10 evidenced significant improvement on a rhythm matching test, a test of spatial localization and a visual retention test. The data were interpreted as indicating that the peptide resulted in improved attention of stimulus processing. It was speculated that MSH/ACTH 4–10 may be uniquely coded for perceptual/ attentional functioning and may be useful as a treatment for disorders of attention.