Quantitative comparisons of the electroencephalographic stimulant effects of deanol, choline, and amphetamine

Abstract

Quantitative electroencephalography is a sensitive method for assaying stimulant and depressant effects of drugs. This method was utilized to study the stimulant effect of deanol in rabbits and human subjects as compared with the efJect of amphetamine. Choline and placebo controls were applied. In both species, both deanol and amphetamine had statistically significant stimulant effects. In rabbits, deanol reversed the depressant effect of pentobarbital as did amphetamine. Amphetamine acted immediately but deanol acted only after a latent period. In humans, deanol did not show a significant latent period and appeared to act through mechanisms which can be acutely saturated.