title: Working memory reloaded: tyrosine repletes updating in the N-back task.
abstract: In this study we tested the idea that the food supplement l-Tyrosine (TYR) repletes resources required for cognitive-control operations. We investigated whether the "updating" (and monitoring) of working memory (WM) representations, a key cognitive-control function, can be promoted by administering TYR, the biochemical precursor of dopamine. Participants performed an N-back task where we compared the WM-demanding 2-back condition with the WM-undemanding 1-back condition. As expected, TYR promoted performance in the more demanding (2-back) but not in the easier (1-back) condition, suggesting that TYR selectively targets cognitive-control operations. This result suggests that TYR can replete cognitive resources when more control is needed and, more generally, that food can act as a cognitive enhancer.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University , Leiden , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lorenza S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Colzato
authors.affiliation: Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University , Leiden , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bryant J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Jongkees
authors.affiliation: Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University , Leiden , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sellaro
authors.affiliation: Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University , Leiden , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hommel
keywords: dopamine; tyrosine; updating; working memory