Affiliations: [a] Dept. of Psychology and the Neuroscience Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand | [b] Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand
Note: [*] Address for Correspondence: Prof. P.F. Smith, Dept. of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand. Tel.: +64 3 479 5747; Fax: +64 3 479 9140; E-mail: paul.smith@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of scopolamine (1.5 mg, transdermal patch) and cyclizine (50 mg tablet), at the doses usually used for the relief of motion sickness, on postural sway, optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) and circularvection (CV) in humans, using a within-subjects, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Scopolamine and cyclizine were found to have no significant suppressive effect on these aspects of visual-vestibular interaction. Postural sway and CV were not significantly affected by either drug treatment; OKN SPV was significantly increased (p<0.05), although OKN amplitude and frequency were unaffected. These results suggest that scopolamine and cyclizine, at doses used for the relief of motion sickness, may have minimal suppressive effects on these aspects of visual-vestibular interaction.
