Citation

Fowler OD. J. Exp. Psychol. 1941; 28(1): 37-52.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1941, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0061435

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Electroencephalographic records were studied in relation to the action of 4 drugs, adrenalin, mecholyl, cocaine, and sodium amytal, on normal subjects and mental patients. Control experiments with saline injections were also made. No significant changes in mean wave frequency were found in the experiments with saline injections and no psychological changes were obtained, except for a report of slight excitement by one patient. In adrenalin experiments, one decrease in the mean number of waves was found, this being the case of a psychoneurotic who reported a return of his anxiety symptoms; no other changes were found. In the mecholyl experiments, significant increases in the mean number of waves were found in 3 of 7 cases; evaluation of the psychological changes was difficult because of the marked basic physiological reactions which the drug induces. Of 8 cocaine experiments, 3 showed increases and one a decrease in mean wave frequency; these changes appear to be related to psychological changes. In all of the experiments with sodium amytal but one, significant increases in mean frequency were found, and the psychological effect of the drug was noticeable in all cases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)