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Biomedical subjects

J Atkinson

Publications and source records attributed to J Atkinson.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

A quantitative study of the anticholinergic action of several tricyclic antidepressants on the rat isolated fundal strip.

1. Investigations were carried out on the antagonism of the action of carbamylcholine chloride on the isolated fundus of the rat stomach by several tricyclic antidepressants.2. The anticholinergic potency of the compounds was in the order: GP 45437>amitriptyline>protriptyline>desmethylimipramine>opipramol. All of the antagonists were less effective than atropine.3. Statistical analysis was carried out to determine whether the theory of competitive antagonism would fit the data obtained.

Amitriptyline

Orientation-specific cortical responses develop in early infancy.

Neurones in the visual cortex of higher mammals differ from those elsewhere in the visual pathway in that the majority respond selectively to particular edge or bar orientations in the stimulus. We have developed a visually evoked potential (VEP) technique which isolates the response of orientation-selective mechanisms from that of cortical or sub-cortical neurones which lack orientation selectivity. We are unable to find such orientation-selective responses in newborn human infants within the sensitivity of our method, but repeated longitudinal testing of individual infants shows that measurable responses emerge around 6 weeks of age. This result is consistent with the idea that human cortical visual function is very immature at birth, but develops rapidly in the first two postnatal months.

Age Factors