Amphetamine enhances human-memory consolidation.
Although it is generally accepted that CNS stimulants have enhancing effects on long-term storage processes in laboratory animals, little is known about their influence on human learning. We report a series of experiments with free recall of lists of unrelated words, demonstrating a significant enhancement on long-term retention after amphetamine administration. A gradual increase of recall was observed up to 1 h after learning, remaining stable for at least 3 days, after oral administration before learning as well as intramuscular injection after learning. The results show that research on humans with drug-induced memory-enhancement techniques is necessary to supplement the animal studies for the understanding of the mechanisms involved in information consolidation.
Soetens
E
E
Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, University of Brussels, Belgium.
D'Hooge
R
R
Hueting
J E
JE
D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D010919:Placebos
D010919:Placebos; D000661:Amphetamine