Objective: To investigate the effects of borneol in the treatment of impaired awake activity and
cognitive function induced
by
long-term continuous operations. Methods: A rat model of long-term continuous operations was first established by using a treadmill protocol. All of the rats were divided into three groups: vehicle-treated operational group, borneol-treated operational group and non-operational group. Subsequently, locomotor activity, wakefulness time and active avoidance response of rats during the subjective day were observed after application of borneol. Results: There were 6 rats fortest in each of the thres group. The results showed that borneol at the dose of 0.4 g/kg had a prominent stimulated effect on spontaneous locomotive activity (non-opreational group 54.1 ±5.4 times/min, vehicle-treated operational group 15.5±8.3 times/min, borneol-treated operational group 26.8±7.8 times/min; n=6, P <0.05) and wake-fulness time (non-operational group 639±46 min, vehicle-treated operational group 411±36 min, borneol-treated operational group 501±52 min, P <0.05). Moreover, borneol showed an improved action on the
cognitive function of rats (non-operational group 5.63±1.01 s, vehicle-treated operational group 6.85 ±1.24 s, borneol-treated operational group 6.26±0.96 s; P <0.05) after long- term continuous operations. Conclusion: Borneol appears to have a potential function in the treatment of impaired awake activity anddepressed cognitive function caused by long-term continuous operations.