[Coupling characteristics of minute-rhythmic oscillations of physiological functions under acute therapy with...

In 9 students the ECG, the respirogram, the EOG, the auditomotor and optomotor reaction times, and the reproduction of 10-digit numbers from the immediate memory (repeated at intervals of 15 sec) were investigated in 25 experiments of 20 min prior to and following p.o. application of 7.5-10 mg diazepam. The autocorrelation function and the power spectrum from about 200 time series were computed, and the frequencies found were verified in the range from 0.2-2.0 min-1. From all possible digit number relations of frequencies (restricted by definite criteria) between the investigated physiological oscillations, the portion of realized synchronizations was calculated as the degree of coupling. The minute-rhythmic coupling degree was found to increase significantly from 41 to 59 per cent under acute influence of diazepam. The heart rate, the respiratory rate and the reaction times did not change significantly. The immediate reproduction power proved significantly diminished. The results are discussed in regard to the facilitated rhythmic synchronization connected with an anxiolytic tranquilizing and sedative-hypmotic action of diazepam.