The influence of scopolamine on motor control and attentional processes

PeerJ

article

Emma Bestaven¹  Charline Kambrun¹  Dominique Guehl²  Jean-René Cazalets¹  Etienne Guillaud¹ 

[1] Institut de Neurosciences Cognitives et Intégratives d’Aquitaine, UMR 5287 CNRS, Université de Bordeaux;Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293 CNRS, Université de Bordeaux;Service d’explorations fonctionnelles du système nerveux, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux

关键词: Scopolamine;    Postural control;    Motion sickness;    GVS;    Attentional processes;    Parabolic flights;    EMG;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.2008

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background: Motion sickness may be caused by a sensory conflict between the visual and the vestibular systems. Scopolamine, known to be the most effective therapy to control the vegetative symptoms of motion sickness, acts on the vestibular nucleus and potentially the vestibulospinal pathway, which may affect balance and motor tasks requiring both attentional process and motor balance. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of scopolamine on motor control and attentional processes. Methods: Seven subjects were evaluated on four different tasks before and after a subcutaneous injection of scopolamine (0.2 mg): a one-minute balance test, a subjective visual vertical test, a pointing task and a galvanic vestibular stimulation with EMG recordings. Results: The results showed that the reaction time and the movement duration were not modified after the injection of scopolamine. However, there was an increase in the center of pressure displacement during the balance test, a decrease in EMG muscle response after galvanic vestibular stimulation and an alteration in the perception of verticality. Discussion: These results confirm that low doses of scopolamine such as those prescribed to avoid motion sickness have no effect on attentional processes, but that it is essential to consider the responsiveness of each subject. However, scopolamine did affect postural control and the perception of verticality. In conclusion, the use of scopolamine to prevent motion sickness must be considered carefully because it could increase imbalances in situations when individuals are already at risk of falling (e.g., sailing, parabolic flight).

【 授权许可】

CC BY