Influence of benzodiazepines on auditory perception

The aim of this study was to test for an influence of benzodiazepine (BZD) on various perceptualand/or cognitive auditory processes. Loudness, auditory selective attention, and the ability of subjects to form perceptualstreams out of alternating tone sequences weretested. Nine subjects weretested before, 1, 3, 7, and 24h aftera single-dose oxazepamvs placebo administration in a crossover design. Asample of blood allows usto measure plasma oxazepam concentration. The results revealed a significant reduction in stream segregationexpressed asd'scores 1 h after oxazepam intake in the test subjects. No significant change occurred across time in the same subjectswhen they were administrated a placebo in another session. Furthermore, oxazepam had no substantialand systematic influence eitheron auditory selective attention or on loudness perception. Altogether, these results suggest that the perceptualorganization of soundsequences involves inhibitory neuralmechanisms, which can be affected by BZDs. This outcome is consistent with existing models ofauditory stream segregation and may be paralleled with earlier findings on the effect of BZDs on perceptualbinding in the visualmodality. © 2003 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.