Acute effects of bromazepam on signal detection performance, digit symbol substitution test and smooth pursuit eye movements

Effects of 6 and 12 mg bromazepam on reaction time, stimulus sensitivity and response bias in a 1-hour visual attention task, on smooth pursuit eye movements, and on performance in the digit symbol substitution test (DSST) were investigated in 12 healthy male volunteers. It was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study that used repeated measures. Three saliva samples and a blood sample were taken for correlating drug concentration and performance. Bromazepam lowered stimulus sensitivity dose-dependently. Response times for hits and response bias were affected by the 12-mg dose only. DSST performance decreased dose-dependently. Smooth pursuit was equally impaired by 6 and 12 mg. Concentrations in serum correlated with concentrations in saliva, but serum and saliva concentrations did not correlate with task performance.