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. 1974 Apr;37(4):416–421. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.37.4.416

L-dopa and arousal 1

Thomas B Horvath 1,2, Russell A Meares 1,2
PMCID: PMC494672  PMID: 4838912

Abstract

In 10 patients with Parkinsonism, treatment with L-dopa was associated with a rise in the skin conductance level and its fluctuations, an increased electromyographic activity in the frontalis muscle, and with faster reaction times. The change of skin conductance in response to a loud noise also increased and its habituation to the repetition of the stimulus was delayed. One patient developed a schizophreniform psychosis and showed high arousal and absent habituation. It is possible that dopamine is the transmitter associated with the arousal reaction and that it plays a part in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

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Selected References

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