The use of benzodiazepines seems to be associated with a deficit in th
e levels of arousal and attention during vigil. A number of studies ha
ve found residual effects a few hours after the intake of these drugs.
This paper assesses the effects of a single dose of 10 mg diazepam on
self-informed arousal (as evaluated with the Stanford Sleepiness Scal
e) and sustained attention (as evaluated with the Toulouse Pieron test
) the morning after oral intake (11 hours later). Potential difference
s in the residual effects of benzodiazepines on men and women were als
o examined. A sample of 42 healthy young university students (21 femal
e, 21 male) was exposed to three counterbalanced experimental conditio
ns (control, placebo, diazepam). Diazepam only caused a reduction in a
rousal in women, and this deficit was similar to that caused by the in
take of a placebo.