Serotonin and human information processing: an electromyographic study of the effects of fluvoxamine on choice reaction time

Previous studies have shown that fluvoxamine, an inhibitor of serotonin reu ptake, shortens choice reaction time, The present study, was intended to ex plore this effect by using two complementary approaches: (i) Sternberg's ad ditive factor method, and (ii) the analysis of the electromyographic activi ty of a prime mover. Eight healthy subjects who received either a sing le o ral dose of fluvoxamine (100 mg) or a placebo participated in a choice reac tion time experiment in which imperative signal intensity, stimulus-respons e mapping, and response repertoire were manipulated. Previous results were replicated. Moreover, it was shown that fluvoxamine shortens the interval b etween prime mover activation and overt response. This supports the hypothe sis proposed in a previous study that fluvoxamine affects motor processes. A possible mechanism of this effect is discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.