The Effects of Increased Central Serotonergic Activity on Information Processing

Numerous studies point to an increased serotoninergic activity in schizophrenia. Additionally, patients with schizophrenia often show reduced filtering of sensory information, which is reflected in reduced P50 suppression and reduced prepulse inhibition of the startle refex (PPI). Currently, the reports in literature on the effects of serotonergic agonists on sensory gating in humans are inconclusive. In an initial study performed in our laboratory, however, we found reduced P50 suppression following administration of imipramine (a combined serotonin- and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor) to healthy volunteers. This result provides evidence for the involvement of either serotonergic, noradrenergic, or a combination of both pathways in sensory gating. In numerous animal studies however, sensory gating is reduced by agonists of 5-HT, which suggests a serotonergic, rather than a noradrenergic, involvement in sensory gating. Therefore, in a follow-up study, the effects of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (escitalopram) will be investigated on sensory gating parameters of healthy volunteers. To further extend the data of our initial study, the subjects will additionally be tested for two more psychophysiological parameters of attention that are usually found to be disturbed in patients with schizophrenia, i.e. mismatch negativity and selective attention. The design will be a double blind, placebo controlled experiment, in which a single dose of escitalopram or placebo will be given to healthy, non-smoking male volunteers on two occasions, separated by at least a week, after which the subjects will be tested in the psychophysiological test battery.

Inclusion criteria

• Male subjects
• Good Physical and Mental Health meeting criteria "never mentally ill", which will be evaluated with a medical history checklist, ECG
• Non smokers

Exclusion criteria

• Current use of any medication
• Any subject who has received any investigational medication within 30 days prior to the start of this study
• History of neurologic illness
• History of psychiatric illness in first-degree relatives, evaluated with DSM-IV criteria
• History of alcohol and drug abuse. Positive urine screening for amphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, or esctacy.