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Related Concept Videos

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions00:59

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions

Direct-acting cholinergic agonists exert their pharmacological actions by mimicking the effects of acetylcholine on postsynaptic muscarinic receptors to generate parasympathetic responses. These agents elicit a range of physiological responses, including cardiovascular effects. For example, activation of muscarinic receptors induces bradycardia, decreased cardiac output, reduced peripheral resistance, and consequent hypotension. In the eye, stimulation of M3 receptors leads to smooth muscle...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics01:31

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

Direct-acting cholinergic agonists, such as synthetic choline esters and naturally occurring alkaloids, exert their effects by enhancing the actions of acetylcholine and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Synthetic choline esters share structural similarities with acetylcholine. For example, they have a positively charged quaternary ammonium or onium group, contributing to their hydrophilic characteristics. As a result, they are poorly absorbed in the body through oral...
Accessory Structures of the Eye01:17

Accessory Structures of the Eye

Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
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To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses01:11

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses

Direct-acting cholinergic agonists have many therapeutic uses in various medical fields. Choline esters, including acetylcholine, have limited clinical utility due to their non-selectivity and short duration of action. Still, acetylcholine and carbachol are applied topically during ophthalmologic surgery to induce miosis. Pilocarpine, a muscarinic and ganglionic stimulator, effectively treats open-angle glaucoma and alleviates xerostomia and dry mouth caused by radiotherapy or Sjögren syndrome.
Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions01:28

Cholinergic Antagonists: Pharmacological Actions

Antimuscarinic drugs block muscarinic receptors in multiple systems, including the gut, eye, smooth muscles, respiratory tract, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. They produce similar effects with varying selectivity depending on the specific agent and tissue. Here are the key pharmacological actions of antimuscarinics:
Gastrointestinal Effects: Antimuscarinics reduce gut contractions, increase gastric emptying, and slow intestinal transit. They partly inhibit gastric acid secretion...

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Quantification of Oculomotor Responses and Accommodation Through Instrumentation and Analysis Toolboxes
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Published on: March 3, 2023

Effects of methylphenidate on basic and higher-order oculomotor functions.

Ava-Ann Allman1, Ulrich Ettinger, Ridha Joober

  • 1Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
|May 17, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Methylphenidate (MPH) improved eye movement control in healthy males, enhancing visually-guided saccades and smooth pursuit. This cognitive enhancer did not affect antisaccades or physiological measures.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Eye movements reflect sensorimotor and cognitive processing, making them sensitive to pharmacological agents.
  • Methylphenidate (MPH) is widely prescribed and increasingly used as a cognitive enhancer, but its effects on healthy cognition are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of Methylphenidate (MPH) on basic oculomotor and executive functions in healthy individuals.
  • To investigate MPH's impact on visually-guided saccades, smooth pursuit, predictive saccades, and antisaccades.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 29 healthy males.
  • Administration of 20mg oral Methylphenidate (MPH) or placebo.
  • Oculomotor testing (saccades, smooth pursuit, antisaccades) one hour post-administration; physiological monitoring (heart rate, blood pressure).

Main Results:

  • Methylphenidate (MPH) significantly decreased visually-guided saccade latency and increased smooth pursuit gain.
  • MPH improved predictive saccade performance, increasing their proportion and peak velocity, especially in timed conditions.
  • Antisaccade performance and physiological variables remained unaffected by MPH.

Conclusions:

  • Methylphenidate (MPH) enhances specific oculomotor functions, including saccade speed and smooth pursuit accuracy, in healthy males.
  • Observed effects suggest MPH influences dopamine pathways in the basal ganglia and impacts timing-related cognitive functions.
  • MPH does not appear to impair executive control functions like antisaccade task performance.