Declarative memory impairments following a military combat course: parallel neuropsychological and biochemical investigations.
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact on several forms of memory and metabolism of a 5-day combat course including heavy and continuous physical activities and sleep deprivation. Mnemonic performance and biochemical parameters of 21 male soldiers were examined before and at the end of the course. Our results showed that short-term memory (memory span, visual memory, audiovisual association) and long-term memory were significantly impaired, whereas short-term spatial memory and planning tasks were spared. Parallel biochemical analysis showed an adaptation of energy metabolism. The observed decrease in glycaemia may be partly responsible for the long-term memory impairment, whereas the decreases in plasma cholinesterases and choline may be involved in the short-term memory deterioration. However, there are also many other reasons for the observed memory changes, one of them being chronic sleep deprivation.
Piérard
Christophe
C
Institut de Médecine Aérospatiale du Service de Santé des Armées, Brétigny-sur-Orge, Cedex, France. cpierard@imassa.fr
Béracochéa
Daniel
D
Pérès
Michel
M
Jouanin
Jean-Claude
JC
Liscia
Pierrette
P
Satabin
Pascale
P
Martin
Serge
S
Testylier
Guy
G
Guézennec
Charles Yannick
CY
Beaumont
Maurice
M
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis