title: Selective effects of triazolam on memory for emotional, relative to neutral, stimuli: differential effects on gist versus detail.
abstract: Benzodiazepines are known to reduce learning and memory performance, presumably through their facilitation of GABAergic neurotransmission, but the effects of these drugs specifically on memory for emotional material has not been addressed in humans. The effects of a benzodiazepine (triazolam, 0.25 mg) on nonincidental memory for emotional stimuli were assessed in 20 healthy volunteers (10 female). Triazolam reduced the normally facilitative effect of emotion on memory. The drug specifically affected memory for the gist of stimuli while leaving detail memory relatively unaffected. This pattern of performance is similar to that seen in patients with amygdala damage. Results suggest an effect of GABAergic neurotransmission at the level of the amygdala on memory modulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. tonybuchanan@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Tony W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Karafin
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adolphs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014229:Triazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014229:Triazolam