Journal Article

Acute effects of lisdexamfetamine and D-amphetamine on social cognition and cognitive performance in a placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects

Strajhar, Petra, Liechti, Matthias E., Dolder, Patrick C., Vizeli, Patrick, Odermatt, Alex

2018

Overview

Rationale Amphetamines are used as medications but are also misused as cognitive enhancers by healthy subjects and may have additional effects on social cognition. Methods We investigated the acute effects of single, high, equimolar doses of D-amphetamine (40 mg) and lisdexamfetamine (100 mg) on social cognition and cognitive performance using a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design in 24 healthy volunteers. Effects on social cognition were assessed using the Facial Emotion Recognition Task (FERT), Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET), and Sexual Arousal Task (SAT). Cognitive performance was measured using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Digit Span (DS), Stop-Signal Task (SST), and Mackworth Clock Test (MCT). Results D-Amphetamine and lisdexamfetamine had small effects on measures of social cognition. There were no effects on emotion recognition on the FERT. D-Amphetamine increased direct empathy on the MET, but only for positive stimuli. Both amphetamines increased ratings of pleasantness and attractiveness on the SAT in response to sexual but also to neutral stimuli. D-Amphetamine and lisdexamfetamine increased cognitive performance (go-accuracy and vigilance on the SST and MCT, respectively). Lisdexamfetamine increased processing speed on the DSST. Neither drug had an effect on the DS. Conclusion Single, high, equimolar doses of D-amphetamine and lisdexamfetamine enhanced certain aspects of cognitive performance in healthy non-sleep-deprived subjects. Both amphetamines also slightly altered aspects of social cognition. Whether these small effects also influence social interaction behavior in amphetamine users remains to be investigated. Trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02668926).

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Acute effects / Adult / Amphetamines / Analysis / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology / Cognition / Cognition & reasoning / Cognition - drug effects / Cognition - physiology / Cognitive ability / Cross-Over Studies / Dextroamphetamine - pharmacology / Double-Blind Method / Drug abuse / Emotions / Emotions - drug effects / Emotions - physiology / Female / Healthy Volunteers / Humans / Lisdexamfetamine / Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate - pharmacology / Male / Neuropsychological Tests / Neurosciences / Nootropic agents / Original Investigation / Pattern recognition / Pharmacology/Toxicology / Psychiatry / Psychopharmacology / Sexual behavior / Sexual Behavior - drug effects / Sexual Behavior - physiology / Sexual Behavior - psychology / Sexual excitement / Sleep / Sleep deprivation / Social aspects / Social Behavior / Social interactions / Vigilance / Young Adult