SOME EFFECTS OF AN ACTH 4-9 ANALOG (ORG-2766) ON HUMAN-PERFORMANCE

The effects (on human beings) of the ACTH analog Org 2766 were investigated for a range of performance tests: complicated serial reaction task, running memory span, verbal learning and non-verbal mental ability tests (closure flexibility and non-verbal abstraction). Subjective ratings on feelings were taken and heart rate was measured. Only the 30-min reaction task produced significant drug effects. In this task performance tends to deteriorate as a function of time on task. During the test period there is a gradual increase in the number of lapses in performance due to moments of inattention. This deterioration is counteracted by the ACTH 4-9 analog, a result also found in a previous study using ACTH 4-10 (Org OI63). Thus ACTH fragments which are devoid of endocrine effects seem to have a beneficial effect on goal-directed motivation oriented on the requirements of the task. © 1979.