Effect of amphetamine on saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements

Abstract

Healthy volunteers received single oral or intravenous doses of d-amphetamine sulphate (15 mg) and placebo in a double blind randomized design. Peak velocity of horizontal saccadic eye movements, saccade duration, saccade reaction time and smooth pursuit velocity were measured at intervals up to 1 h (IV) and 6 h (oral) after drug administration. Amphetamine produced no significant effect on saccadic and smooth-pursuit eye movements after oral administration. However, intravenous amphetamine abolished the effect of fatigue on saccadic movements and significantly (P less than 0.01) shortened saccadic reaction time.