This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by van der Post, J. Articles by van Gerven, J. M. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by van der Post, J. Articles by van Gerven, J. M. A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

No evidence of the usefulness of eye blinking as a marker for central dopaminergic activity

Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands. jvdp{at}chdr.nl

P. P. de Waal

Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands.

M. L. de Kam

Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands.

A. F. Cohen

Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands.

J. M. A. van Gerven

Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands.

This study aimed to evaluate eye blinking as a marker for central dopaminergic activity by investigating the effects of sulpiride (D2-antagonist) and lisuride (D2-agonist) on spontaneous eye blinks. Twelve healthy subjects were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-period crossover trial. They received sulpiride 400 mg, lisuride 0.2 mg and placebo on different occasions. Eye blinks, prolactin, finger tapping, eye movements and visual analogue scales were measured at baseline and regularly for 12 h after administration. No effect of sulpiride or lisuride was observed on the number of eye blinks. Sulpiride caused an increase in prolactin (643 U/ml) [confidence interval (CI) 549–737). Lisuride caused a decrease in smooth pursuit eye movements (–4.1%) (CI –7.3 to –0.9) and visual analogue scales for mood (–2.1 mm) (CI –3.7 to –0.4). Spontaneous eye blink rate was not affected by sulpiride and lisuride, which makes eye blinking not suitable as a marker for central D2 activity.

Key Words: dopamine • eye blinking • eye movements • prolactin

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 18, No. 1, 109-114 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0269881104042832


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Mohr, P. S. Sandor, T. Landis, M. Fathi, and P. Brugger Blinking and schizotypal thinking J Psychopharmacol, September 1, 2005; 19(5): 513 - 520. [Abstract] [PDF]