Inspection time: a neuropsychophysiological test for measuring the functional integrity of the cholinergic system

• Published in: Medical hypotheses Vol. 57; no. 6; pp. 759 - 760
• Main Authors: Nathan, P.J., Stough, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology; Alzheimer Disease - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Cholinergic Fibers - physiology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Mental Processes - physiology; Nervous system; Neuropsychological Tests; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Time Factors; Tropical medicine; Human; Neuropsychological test; Inspection; Nervous system; Exploration; Time; Technique; Discussion; Cholinergic pathway
• ISSN: 0306-9877; 1532-2777
• DOI: 10.1054/mehy.2001.1484

Inspection time (IT) is a measure of the speed of early information processing, demonstrating reliable correlation with psychometric intelligence. We now provide evidence that it may serve as a marker for the integrity of the cholinergic system. Cholinergic agonists improve and antagonists impair IT, while modulators of the monoamine systems are without effect. Furthermore impairments in IT correlate with disease severity in Alzheimer's disease, a disorder of compromised cholinergic system function. Taken together, available data suggest that IT may be a useful physiological marker of functional status of the cholinergic system. Coptright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd