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Classification and Evaluation of the Pharmacodynamics of Psychotropic Drugs by Single-Lead Pharmaco-EEG, EEG Mapping and Tomography (LORETA)

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Check out this Knowledge Base article from StressTherapy Solutions: Classification and Evaluation of the Pharmacodynamics of Psychotropic Drugs by Single-Lead Pharmaco-EEG, EEG Mapping and Tomography (LORETA).

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Study at a glance

Area
QEEG, Methods & Mechanisms
Study type
Review & meta-analysis
Authors
Saletu B, Anderer P, Saletu-Zyhlarz GM, Arnold O, Pascual-Marqui RD
Journal
Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology 24(Suppl C):97-120
Year
2002
Protocol
pharmaco-EEG, EEG mapping and LORETA

Key findings

  • Each main class of psychotropic drug produces a distinct pharmaco-EEG profile compared with placebo
  • Sedative neuroleptics raise delta and theta and lower alpha, while nonsedative neuroleptics such as haloperidol raise alpha and alpha-adjacent beta
  • Anxiolytic sedatives increase beta and reduce alpha; psychostimulants mainly increase alpha and beta-1
  • LORETA imaging of 3 mg haloperidol, 20 mg citalopram, 2 mg lorazepam and 20 mg methylphenidate showed different brain regions affected

A review of how quantitative pharmaco-EEG, EEG mapping and low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) can classify psychotropic drugs and show their effects on the brain. Drawing on many double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in the authors' laboratory covering over 130 substances, it describes typical EEG profiles of neuroleptics, antidepressants, tranquilizers, hypnotics, psychostimulants and cognition-enhancing drugs. LORETA data for representative drugs show that these drug classes affect brain structures differently.