Further studies of effects of chlorpromazine on the contingent negative variation

Abstract

The effect of 25 mg of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on the contingent negative variation (CNV) at Cz and Oz was studied in nine male subjects. Two kinds of warning stimulus (S1)--imperative stimulus--and motor response (MR) were used. A click as S1 was common to both, while either flashes or electrical stimulation was used as S2. Simultaneously with CNV recording, the reaction time of the finger movement as MR to S2 was measured in five of nine subjects. The results obtained were as follows. 1) CNV amplitudes after CPZ administration were decreased significantly both at Cz and Oz when S2 was flashes and only at Cz when S2 was electrical stimulation. 2) Significant positive correlations of CNV amplitudes between Cz and Oz were found both before and after the drug administration. 3) Reaction times to flashes and electrical stimulation as S2 were not affected by CPZ administration. 4) The reaction time to flashes was significantly shorter than that to electrical stimulation irrespective of pre- and post-administration of CPZ.