Effect of Diazepam on Visuomotor Reaction Time

Abstract

20 male and 10 female adult, normal, healthy subjects, whose mean age was 26.34 yr., participated in a double-blind study of the effect of a single dose (0.2 mg./kg. of body weight) of diazepam on visuomotor reaction time. Reaction time was measured before drug administration, and 60 min., and 120 min. after administration. Separate reaction times for the dominant and nondominant hand were recorded. There were no significant differences between the diazepam and placebo group at each of the three time intervals. Diazepam in the single dose employed does not appear to affect adversely visuomotor reaction time of relatively young, normal, healthy adults. For both groups the difference in visuomotor reaction time between the dominant hand and the nondominant hand was statistically significant as expected.