THE EFFECT OF AMPHETAMINE SULFATE AND SOME BARBITURATES ON THE FATIGUE PRODUCED BY PROLONGED WAKEFULNESS

Abstract

With the exception of the effect on the electrical activity of the brain no other significant physiological or biochemical changes were observed during 112 hrs. of exptl. insomnia. Performance as measured by a variety of psychomotor skills shows little change as long as the test is of short duration. Modifying a test so that sustained effort or attention is required results in poorer performance first becoming evident after 60 hr. of sleeplessness. This inability for sustained performance is due to the difficulty in remaining awake and not to muscular weakness. Benzedrine prevents this deterioration in performance if it is first administered only after 36-48 hrs. have elapsed. This effect of benzedrine is at- , tributed to its anti-hypnotic action. Barbiturates in the dosages employed had only a slight effect on performance. The chief disturbances produced by prolonged wakefulness are psychological. In the great majority of subjects these disturbances are mild and transitory; in a few subjects symptoms resembling common forms of psychosis occurred.