Diazepam-induced changes in signal detection performance. A comparison with the effects on the Critical Flicker-Fusion Frequency and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test.

Abstract

The effects of 10 mg diazepam on signal detection theory measures (stimulus sensitivity, response bias) and reaction times were studied in a 1-hour visual signal detection task with high and low signal probability, and on performance in two short-duration tasks: Critical Flicker-Fusion Frequency (CFF) and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). 12 healthy volunteers participated in this placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over study. Diazepam affected the stimulus sensitivity and the reaction times of hits in the signal detection task. DSST performance was also impaired while CFF did not change after diazepam treatment. No relationship between serum diazepam concentration and change in task performance was found. It is concluded that diazepam affects signal detection performance, independent of signal probability. A short-duration task like the DSST is as sensitive to the effects of diazepam as the (long-duration) signal detection task.