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Enhanced GABA-A inhibition enhances synchrony coding in human perception
Elliott, Mark
Elliott, Mark
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Date
2000-10-20
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journal article
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Citation
Elliott, M. A., Becker, C., Boucart, Mueller, H. J. (2000). Enhanced GABAA inhibition enhances synchrony coding in human perception. NeuroReport, 11(15), 3403-3407.
Abstract
The benzodiazepine, lorazepam enhances the efficiency of local, inhibitory GABAA synapses in the cortex, which stabilize postsynaptic, excitatory activity by synchronizing their own discharges at around 40 Hz. Treatment with lorazepam has also been shown to adversely influence detection performance in perceptual tasks, suggesting a role for GABAA-mediated synchronization during visuo-perceptual organization. Consistent with these findings we report that reaction times to target stimuli were slower following lorazepam treatment. However, when targets followed presentation of a synchronized prime, presented within a flickering 40-Hz display matrix, the effects of priming were amplified relative to baseline and control conditions. We conclude that enhanced GABAA-induced inhibition enhances stimulus-evoked synchronization with differential effects upon mechanisms of perceptual segmentation and grouping.
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Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft project grant SCHR 375/8-1
EEC Biomed 2 project grant
EEC Biomed 2 project grant
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
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License
CC BY-NC-ND