FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-77/17

Title and Subtitle: Effects of lithium carbonate on performance and biomedical functions

Report Date: July 1977

Authors: Higgins EA, Chiles WD, McKenzie JM, Davis AW Jr, Funkhouser GE, Jennings AE, Mullen SR, Fowler PR

Abstract: The effects of a single 600-mg dose of lithium carbonate were evaluated in a study of 15 healthy, normal male subjects. Subjects were studied, on two occasions, by utilizing a double-blind design--once receiving the lithium carbonate and once receiving a lactose placebo.

Measurements were made of

1. complex performance, using the CAMI Multiple Task Performance Battery,
2. hand steadiness, using the steadiness tester of the Motor Steadiness Kit,
3. heart rate,
4. the urinary excretion of 17-ketogenic steroids, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, and
5. short term memory, as measured by the Wechsler Memory Scale.

The only statistically significant effect due to the drug was for short term memory, in which scores made by subjects taking the placebo were higher than scores made by those taking the lithium carbonate.

Key Words: Lithium carbonate, Hand steadiness, Complex performance, Short term memory, Stress Hormones

No. of Pages: 31