Effect of antipsychotics on cortical inhibition using transcranial magnetic stimulation

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2003 Nov;170(3):255-262. doi: 10.1007/s00213-003-1548-1. Epub 2003 Aug 7.

Abstract

Previous studies suggest that antipsychotic medications may alter cortical inhibition (CI). The current study was designed to determine if typical or atypical antipsychotics indeed alter CI in healthy subjects using three CI paradigms as measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), cortical silent period (CSP) and transcallosal inhibition (TCI). CI was measured before, 6 and 24 h after being randomly assigned to receive a single dose of 2 mg haloperidol (n=8), 10 mg olanzapine (n=10) or placebo (n=9). There was no significant effect on any measure of CI at 6 and 24 h after receiving olanzapine, haloperidol or placebo. Moreover, no significant change in the motor threshold was observed across the three medication groups. Therefore, single administration of an antipsychotic has no effect on CI or resting motor threshold. Whether chronic, repeated administration of antipsychotics has effects on CI requires further investigation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antipsychotic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzodiazepines / pharmacokinetics
  • Benzodiazepines / pharmacology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects*
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Half-Life
  • Haloperidol / pharmacokinetics
  • Haloperidol / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Olanzapine

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Haloperidol
  • Olanzapine