title: Relationship of enhanced norepinephrine activity during memory consolidation to enhanced long-term memory in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of enhanced noradrenergic activity on memory consolidation in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty healthy subjects (21 men and nine women) viewed a series of 12 slides that depicted an emotionally arousing story. Five minutes after viewing the slides, subjects received either intravenous yohimbine or intravenous placebo in a double-blind randomized fashion. Multiple blood samples were drawn for determining plasma free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG). One week later subjects took a surprise memory test for the slides.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in memory score between yohimbine and placebo groups. Linear regression revealed a significant effect of MHPG on memory score for the group as a whole (subjects who had received yohimbine and those who had received placebo) and for the placebo group alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings strengthen support for the hypothesis that enhanced memory for emotionally arousing events in humans depends critically on postlearning adrenergic modulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, CT, USA. Steven.Southwick@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Southwick
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: J Douglas
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bremner
authors.forename: Dennis C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Charney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010919:Placebos; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D015016:Yohimbine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D009638:Norepinephrine