Attentional cueing reverses deficits in spatial working memory task performance in chronic low dose MPTP-treated monkeys.
Chronic low dose MPTP-treated monkeys develop difficulty in performing spatial working memory tasks. Since these tasks have both attentional and memory components, the extent to which task performance deficits are attentional or memory in nature was examined. Using a modified variable delayed response (VDR) task, employment of an attentional cue prior to stimulus presentation significantly improved task performance, suggesting a strong attentional component to the deficit in spatial working memory task performance. These findings suggest that procedures to enhance attention may be useful in ameliorating some of the "memory" deficits associated with early Parkinson's disease.
Decamp
E
E
Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, 521 JAH, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Tinker
J P
JP
Schneider
J S
JS
D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine