title: ERP effects of methylphenidate and working memory load in healthy adults during a serial visual working memory task.
abstract: The objective of the study was to investigate neuronal processing during the encoding, retention and retrieval phases of a serial visual working memory task. Particularly, we were interested in how these phases are affected by working memory load and how processing is modulated by methylphenidate. Healthy adults were asked to memorize the order of four, five or six pictures under methylphenidate (20mg) and under placebo while brain electrical activity was recorded. On the performance level, the number of correct responses decreased with increasing working memory load. Concerning brain electrical activity, in the encoding phase P3 amplitudes increased at midline electrodes with increasing memory load while load had no effect in the retention and retrieval phase. Medication neither influenced performance nor the different processing stages significantly. Our data provide evidence that during the encoding phase more attentional resources are allocated in trials with higher load as reflected by larger P3 amplitudes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. petra.studer@uk-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Studer
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wangler
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Diruf
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kratz
authors.forename: Gunther H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinrich
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008774:Methylphenidate