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Receptive-field Size of S1 Cortical Neurones is Altered by Methaqualone via a GABA Mechanism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

T.P. Hicks ,
T. Kaneko  and
J.-I. Oka
T.P. Hicks*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
T. Kaneko
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
J.-I. Oka
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina
*
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 296 Eberhart Building, Greensboro, N.C., U.S.A. 27412-5001
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Abstract:

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Methaqualone (Mtq; quaaludes or 'ludes) is a controlled substance, having a molecular structure related to the imidiazobenzodiazepine series of drugs, that has gained some notoriety recently due to its history of widespread abuse on the street. Users report experiencing peripheral paresthesia and transient numbness on body parts receiving dense cutaneous innervation (lips, fingertips, etc.). Since the receptive-field (RF)-sizes of many primary somatosensory (SI) cortical neurones are controlled by local, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated inhibitory processes, we tested Mtq to see whether its clinical symptoms might have a basis in an action through central GABA-mediated synaptic processes. This report supports this contention and describes a likely pharmacological mechanism involved as one being related to the Ro 15-1788-sensitive benzodiazepine (Bzd) recognition site(s) of the GABA receptor complex.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , February 1990 , pp. 30 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1990

References

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