title: Effects of midazolam on explicit vs implicit memory in a pediatric surgery setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Placebo-controlled studies show that midazolam impairs explicit memory in children undergoing surgery (Buffett-Jerrott et al., Psychopharmacology 168:377-386, 2003; Kain et al., Anesthesiology 93:676-684, 2000). A recent within-subjects study showed that midazolam impaired explicit memory while leaving implicit memory intact in a sample of older children undergoing painful medical procedures (Pringle et al., Health Psychol 22:263-269, 2003).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to replicate and extend these findings in a randomized, placebo-controlled design with younger children undergoing surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 3-6 years who were undergoing ear tube (myringotomy) surgery were randomly assigned to receive midazolam (n = 12) or placebo (n = 11). After surgery, they were tested on explicit (recognition) and implicit (priming) memory for pictures encoded before surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to placebo, the midazolam-treated children showed poorer recognition memory on the explicit task but equivalent priming on the implicit task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, it appears that midazolam induces a dissociation between explicit and implicit memory in young children in the pediatric surgery setting. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed along with directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada. sstewart@dal.ca
authors.forename: Sherry H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Buffett-Jerrott
authors.forename: G Allen
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Finley
authors.forename: Kristi D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valois Gomez
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008874:Midazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D013043:Specialties, Surgical
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008874:Midazolam