Diazepam induces a dissociation between explicit and implicit memory.
The effects of 0.2 mg/kg orally administered diazepam and of a placebo on explicit memory, implicit and knowledge memory were assessed using a free recall task, a word-stem completion task and two category-generation tasks. Twenty four healthy volunteers took part in this double-blind study. Diazepam impaired explicit but not implicit memory. The drug also spared knowledge memory. Explicit memory was linked with the diazepam-induced sedation and with the self-rated affective load of to-be remembered words, but implicit memory was not. The diazepam-induced dissociation between explicit and implicit memory supports the notion of two distinct forms of memory and reproduced the dissociation observed in organic amnesia.
Danion
J M
JM
Clinique Psuchiatrique, Hospices Civils, Strasbourg, France.
Zimmermann
M A
MA
Willard-Schroeder
D
D
Grangé
D
D
Singer
L
L
D000328:Adult; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*
D003975:Diazepam