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The acute and chronic administrations of Piracetam affect the movement-related brain macropotentials

STS Instructor Authored by Giuseppe A. Chiarenza

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Check out this Knowledge Base article from StressTherapy Solutions: The acute and chronic administrations of Piracetam affect the movement-related brain macropotentials.

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Study at a glance

Area
QEEG, Methods & Mechanisms
Study type
Randomized controlled trial
Authors
Chiarenza GA, Ragaini C, Guareschi Cazzullo A
Journal
International Journal of Psychophysiology
Year
1990
Population
Children
Protocol
piracetam vs placebo; movement-related brain potentials

Key findings

  • No side effects reported with single or repeated dosing
  • No difference from placebo in task performance (already optimal) or muscle activity
  • The readiness potential became a positive shift with a single dose and grew with repeated dosing
  • Repeated dosing enlarged and sped up the skilled performance positivity component

DOI 10.1016/0167-8760(90)90014-5 → PubMed 2338403 →

Healthy children took either piracetam (a drug proposed to aid learning and memory) or placebo in random order, with a three-week washout, in a triple-blind design testing both a single dose and longer-term dosing. Movement-related brain potentials were recorded while they performed a skilled motor-perceptual task. Task performance and muscle activity did not change, but several brain potential components did, suggesting the drug altered the brain processes behind the task even though behaviour was already at ceiling.