Responsiveness of sensorimotor cortex during pharmacological intervention with bromazepam

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 448; no. 1; pp. 33 - 36
• Main Authors: Cunha, Marlo, Portela, Cláudio, Bastos, Victor H., Machado, Dionis, Machado, Sergio, Velasques, Bruna, Budde, Henning, Cagy, Maurício, Basile, Luis, Piedade, Roberto, Ribeiro, Pedro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 19.12.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Bromazepam; Bromazepam - pharmacology; Double-Blind Method; Electroencephalography; Electroencephalography - drug effects; Electroencephalography - methods; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Maximum Tolerated Dose; Motor Cortex - radiation effects; Motor learning; Neuropsychological Tests; Problem Solving - drug effects; Relative power; Sensorimotor integration; Somatosensory Cortex - radiation effects; Typewriting; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Young Adult; Bromazepam; Relative power; Sensorimotor integration; Electroencephalography; Motor learning; Typewriting; Sensorimotor coordination; Central nervous system; Electrophysiology; Sensorimotor cortex; Encephalon
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.10.024

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of bromazepam on EEG and the motor learning process when healthy subjects were submitted to a typewriting task. We investigated bromazepam due to its abuse by various populations and its prevalent clinical use among older individuals which are more sensitive to the negative effects of long half-life benzodiazepines. A randomized double-blind design was used with subjects divided into three groups: placebo (n=13), bromazepam 3mg (n=13) and bromazepam 6mg (n=13). EEG data comprising theta, alpha and beta bands was recorded before, during and after the motor task. Our results showed a lower relative power value in the theta band in the Br 6mg group when compared with PL. We also observed a reduction in relative power in the beta band in the Br 3mg and Br 6mg when compared with PL group. These findings suggest that Br can contribute to a reduced working memory load in areas related to attention processes. On the other hand, it produces a higher cortical activation in areas associated with sensory integration. Such areas are responsible for accomplishing the motor learning task. The results are an example of the usefulness of integrating electrophysiological data, sensorimotor activity and a pharmacological approach to aid in our understanding of cerebral changes produced by external agents.