Amphetamine Improves Sense of Touch
Amphetamine use doubles tactile sensitivity among users, according to researchers from Ruhr University in Germany.
The Melbourne Age reported Oct. 10 that the study authors said the research could lead to new treatments for stroke victims. “We are at the beginning of an era where we can interact with the brain,” said researcher Hubert Dinse.
“Finger stimulations and drugs can temporarily reorganize parts of the human brain. This stimulation, called co-activation, shuffles the synapses that link neurons,” Dinse said. “The stimulated area becomes more sensitive as more neurons are recruited to process encountered tactile information. The scientists showed that amphetamine doubled stimulation-induced gains in tactile acuity.”
Dinse said the findings indicate that drugs can be used to alter brain function and perhaps behavior. “People are always trying to find ways to improve learning. What we tested is unconscious skill learning. How far could this carry to cognitive learning? That remains to be seen,” he said.
