ePrints

The effects of noradrenergic re-uptake inhibition on memory encoding in man

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Polash Shajahan

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

Rationale: Animal and human evidence implicate the central noradrenergic system in the process of memory modulation for emotional material. Blockade of the beta-adrenergic system in humans has been shown to result in decreased recall and recognition memory performance, relative to placebo, for the emotional elements of a series of slides accompanied by a narrative. Stimulation of the noradrenergic system with yohimbine has also been shown to result in increased recall and recognition performance relative to placebo for the same stimulus materials. Objectives: The present study, tested the hypothesis that stimulating the central noradrenergic system using the new noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor reboxetine would result in a dose-dependent enhancement of memory for emotional material in man. Methods: The central noradrenergic system was manipulated using reboxetine in a double-blind, randomised between-group, placebo-controlled design with 36 healthy adult subjects in each of three groups (placebo, 4 and 8 mg reboxetine). Free recall and recognition memory performance were assessed in a 'surprise' memory test following a 7-day interval. Results: We found no memory enhancing effect of reboxetine. In contrast we observed a dose-dependent effect on memory opposite to the predicted direction. There were no significant differences between groups in self-rated stress and arousal scores or self-rated emotional reactions to the stimuli. All groups showed the expected increased memory performance for the middle 'emotive' phase of the story Conclusion: Selective stimulation of the central nor-adrenergic system at encoding did not result in enhanced long-term memory for emotional material in man.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Papps BP, Shajahan PM, Ebmeier KP, O'Carroll RE

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Psychopharmacology

Year: 2002

Volume: 159

Issue: 3

Pages: 311-318

ISSN (print): 0033-3158

ISSN (electronic): 1432-2072

Publisher: Springer

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-001-0924-y

DOI: 10.1007/s00213-001-0924-y

Altmetrics

Share