Author response image 2. V1 cortical activation measured with voltage sensitive dye imaging in non-human primate, elicited by local drifting gratings in awake (left) and anesthetized (right, midazolam) condition.
Red and white contours represent 75 and 50% of maximal activation; scale bar: 1 mm. Drowsy state of the animal (right) was induced by intranasal administration of 0.2 ml midazolam (7-chloro-imidazo, 0.1 mg/kg). Midazolam is a short-acting hypnotic-sedative drug with anxiolytic and amnestic properties. From the benzodiazepines class of tranquilizer drugs, the pharmacologic effects of midazolam are mediated through a majority of GABAA receptors (see Sigel 2002 for a review).