Transdermal Scopolamine: Effects upon Psychological Performance and Visual Functioning at Sea

The effects of transdermal scopolamine upon psychological task performance, subjective feeling state, and visual functioning, were assessed with 28 naval volunteers at sea. The battery of assessment measures was given before drug administration, and following 24-hour periods on transdermal scopolamine and transdermal placebo. Code substitution task performance was not affected, but letter cancellation errors were significantly increased, indicating an impairment in sustained attention with transdermal scopolamine. Subjective reports of dry mouth and drowsiness were significantly more frequent under scopolamine. Visual changes were also noted, with visual near point significantly increased for the overall group, and one hypermetropic subject developing a marked visual acuity decrement and severe blurred vision, following transdermal scopolamine.