Effects of zolpidem and zopiclone on cognitive and attentional function in young healthy volunteers: An event‐related potential study

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of zolpidem and zopiclone, non‐benzodiazepine ultra‐short‐acting hypnotics, on cognitive function and vigilance level were investigated in the morning following nocturnal administration using event‐related potentials (ERP) and a sleep latency test (SLT). Zopiclone significantly shortened the sleep latency the following morning, whereas zolpidem did not, perhaps due to the difference in the elimination half‐lives between the compounds. No significant effect was observed for either drug on the ERP indices, including the P3, mismatch negativity and negative difference components. At a clinically prescribed dosage these sleep inducers have no remarkable effect on cognitive or attentional functions but increase sleepiness of the subjects.