Skip to main content
Log in

Changes in physical performance induced by amphetamine and amobarbital

  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of amphetamine sulphate and amobarbital on maximal physical performance was examined.

Each subject underwent on two different occasions a test on a bicycle ergometer, consisting of a series of short intermittent exercises of maximal character, the CSET (Cycling Strength and Endurance Test).

The 34 male subjects tested were divided into three groups (A, B, and C) on the basis of their results of the first test. Before the second test started, group A was given amphetamine sulphate, group B amobarbital and group C placebo. The final performances in the CSET improved under the influence of amphetamine, but the initial ones did not. After treatment with amobarbital the performance decreased. These results may be interpreted as effects on processes which are similar to those influenced by reduced performance demands, and which are related to work motivation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adamson, G. T., Finlay, S. E.: The effects of two psycho-stimulant drugs on muscular performance in male athletes. Ergonomics 8, 237–241 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Alles, C. A., Feigen, G. A.: The influence of benzendrine on workdecrement and the patellar reflex. Amer. J. Physiol. 136, 392–400 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

  • Barmack, J. E.: The effect of benzedrine sulphate (benzyl methyl carbinamine) upon the report of boredom and other factors. J. Psychol. (Provincetown) 5, 125 (1938).

    Google Scholar 

  • Borg, G.: Physical performance and perceived exertion. Lund: Gleerup 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  • - The three effort continua of physical work. Proc. XVIth Int. Congr. Appl. Psychol., Amsterdam, pp. 394–397 (1968).

  • - Edström, C.-G.: Om några motivationsindikatorer vid fysiskt arbete. Psykol. Und., Klin. Psyk. Lab., Umeå Univ., No. 1 (1967).

  • - - Marklund, G.: En cykelergometer för fysiologiska och beteendemÄtningar. Psykol. Und., Klin. Psyk. Lab., Umeå Univ., No. 10 (1967a).

  • - - - Arbetsmotivation; Differensen mellan observerade och förvÄntade fysiska prestationer. Psykol. Und., Klin. Psyk. Lab., Umeå Univ., No. 6 (1967b).

  • - - - A bicycle ergometer for physiological and psychological studies. Rep. Inst. appl. Psychol., Univ. Stockholm No. 24 (1971).

  • Bujas, Z., Petz, B.: Utjecaj fenamina na economičnast statičnog rada. Arh. Hig. Rada. 6, 205–208 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Costello, C. G.: The effects of stimulant and depressant drugs on physical persistence. Amer. J. Psychol. 76, 698–700 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuthberton, D. P., Knox, J. A. C.: The effects of analytics on the fatigued subject. J. Physiol (Lond.) 106, 42–58 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  • DiMascio, A., Buie, D. H.: Psychopharmacology of chlorphentermine and d-amphetamine—a comparative study of their effects in normal males. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 5, 174–184 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankenhaeuser, M., Post, B.: Objective and subjective performance as influences by drug-induced variations in activation level. Scand. J. Psychol. 7, 168–178 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, L. S., Gilman, A.: The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. New York: MacMillan 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haldi, J., Wynn, W.: Action of drugs on efficiency of swimmers. Res. Quart. 17, 96–101 (1946).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hueting, J. E., Poulus, A. J.: Amphetamine, performance, effort and fatigue. Pflügers Arch. 318, 260 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikai, M., Steinhaus, A. H.: Some factors modifying the expression of human strength. J. appl. Physiol. 16, 157–163 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Karpovich, P. V.: Effect of amphetamine sulphate on athletic performance. J. Amer. med. Ass. 170, 558–561 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoefel, P. K.: The influence of phenisopropyl amine and phenisopropyl methyl amine on work output. Fed. Proc. 2, 83 (1943).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kornetsky, C., Mirsky, A., Kessler, E. K., Dorff, J. E.: The effects of dextroamphetamine on behavioral deficits produced by sleep-loss in human. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 127, 46–50 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Laties, V. G., Weiss, B.: Performance enhancement by the amphetamines: A new appraisal. In: Neuro-Psycho-Pharmacology, Ed. H. Brill, Intern. Congress Series, No. 129, pp. 800–808 (1966).

  • Linderholm, H.: Unpublished observations.

  • Mackworth, J. F.: The effects of amphetamine on the detectability of signals in a vigilance task. Canad. J. Psychol. 19, 104–109 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackworth, N. H.: Researches in the measurement of human performance. Medical Research Council, Spec. Rpt. Series, No. 268. H. M. Stationery Off., London 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne, R. B., Hauty, G. T.: The effects of experimentally induced attitudes upon task proficiency. J. exp. Psychol. 47, 267–273 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer, C. C., Goldstein, L., Murphree, H. B., Sugerman, A. A.: Time-series, frequency analysis, and electrogenesis of the EEG:s of normal and psychotics before and after drugs. Amer. J. Psychiat. 121, 1147–1155 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, G. M., Beecher, H. K.: Amphetamine sulphate and athletic performance. I. Objective effects. J. Amer. med. Ass. 270, 542 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjöstrand, T.: Changes in the respiratory organs of workmen at an ore smelting works. Acta med. scand., Suppl. 196, 687–699 (1947).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlund, H.: Determination of the physical working capacity. Acta med. scand., Suppl. 215 (1948).

  • Weiss, B., Laties, V. G.: Enhancement of human performance by caffeine and the amphetamines. Pharmacol. Rev. 14, 1–36 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel, D. G., Rutledge, C. O.: Effects of centrally-acting drugs on human motor and psychomotor performance. J. Pharm. Sci. 51, 631–644 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This investigation was partly supported by a grant from the Swedish Council for Social Science Research, and partly by one from the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Fund.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Borg, G., Edström, CG., Linderholm, H. et al. Changes in physical performance induced by amphetamine and amobarbital. Psychopharmacologia 26, 10–18 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421914

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421914

Key words

Navigation