Abstract
This study explored whether benzodiazepines selectively affect aspects of attention and/or visual information processing, as they do memory. A cued visual-search paradigm was employed, using normal volunteers and a single dose of triazolam. This paradigm provided for a detailed examination of two aspects of visual attention and information processing: 1) controlled versus automatic attention allocation (via central and peripheral cues), and 2) the extent to which processing an item in a non-cued location affects performance (via cue-validity). Triazolam, compared to placebo, significantly increased response time, and Drug Condition interacted with Cue-Validity but not Cue-Type. Based on these data, we argue that triazolam doesnot affect attention allocation butdoes affect attentional disengagement and/or attention switching mechanisms.
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Johnson, D.N., Weingartner, H.J., Andreason, P. et al. An effect of triazolam on visual attention and information processing. Psychopharmacology 121, 145–149 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245623
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245623