Abstract
Though being a sedative, diazepam increases β-activity in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Diazepam also affects auditory evoked potentials (AEPs). We investigated if the effect of diazepam on AEPs could be ascribed to its β-increasing effect. Eight rats received vehicle and diazepam counterbalanced. AEPs were ranked in ten categories according to the percentages of β-activity in the pre-stimulus electroencephalogram (EEG). With vehicle, the P 29, N 51 and P 67 AEP components increased and cross-correlation coefficients (CCCs) declined with increasing β-activity. With diazepam AEP components and CCCs remained unchanged. All AEPs with diazepam closely resembled the AEP of the lowest β-category obtained with vehicle. We conclude that the effect of diazepam on AEPs can not be ascribed to its β-enhancing effect. Diazepam disrupts the normal AEP-EEG relation such that diazepam-effects on AEPs seem to reflect the sedative effects of diazepam and not its β-increasing effects.
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