Titre du document / Document title

Memory for emotional events : differential effects of centrally versus peripherally acting β-blocking agents

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

VAN STEGEREN A. H. ⁽¹⁾ ; EVERAERD W. ⁽¹⁾ ; CAHILL L. ⁽²⁾ ; MCGAUGH J. L. ⁽²⁾ ; GOOREN L. J. G. ⁽³⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, PAYS-BAS
⁽²⁾ Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Department of Psychobiology, University of Irvine, Irvine, California, ETATS-UNIS
⁽³⁾ Academic Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, VU-University, Amsterdam, PAYS-BAS

Résumé / Abstract

Substantial evidence from animal research indicates that enhanced memory associated with emotional experiences involves activation of the β-adrenergic system. This hypothesis is further supported by the finding in human subjects that blockade of β-adrenergic receptors with propranolol selectively reduced memory for emotional events. In the present study. we compared the effects of propranolol, a lipid soluble drug which crosses the blood-brain barrier easily, with those of nadolol, a water soluble drug which crosses the blood-brain barrier to a considerably lesser extent, to determine whether thc effect involved peripheral or central β-adrenergic receptors. The effects of these drugs, taken before subjects watched a slide show that was either emotionally arousing or relatively neutral in content, were tested I week later with a surprise memory test. Consistent with previous results, propranolol impaired memory (recall and recognition) in the subjects who saw the emotional version of the slide show. In contrast, nadolol did not impair memory of the emotional slide show. These results indicate that the blockade of central β-adrenergic receptors is responsible for the reduction in storage of emotional events. The results support the view that memory of a mild emotional event involves activation of central, but not necessarily peripheral β-adrenergic receptors.

Revue / Journal Title

Psychopharmacologia   ISSN 0033-3158   CODEN PSYPAG 

Source / Source

1998, vol. 138, n^o 3-4 (159 p.)  (16 ref.), pp. 305-310

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Springer, Berlin, ALLEMAGNE  (1959) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Propranolol ; Nadolol ; Beta blocking agent ; Oral administration ; Toxicity ; Memory disorder ; Emotion emotionality ; β-Adrenergic receptor ; Antagonist ; Site of action ; Central nervous system ; Peripheral nervous system ; Human ; Normal ; Cognitive disorder ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Propranolol ; Nadolol ; Bloquant β-adrénergique ; Voie orale ; Toxicité ; Trouble mémoire ; Emotion émotivité ; Récepteur β-adrénergique ; Antagoniste ; Site action ; Système nerveux central ; Système nerveux périphérique ; Homme ; Normal ; Trouble cognition ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Propranolol ; Nadolol ; Bloqueador β-adrenérgico ; Vía oral ; Toxicidad ; Trastorno memoria ; Emoción emotividad ; Receptor β-adrenérgico ; Antagonista ; Lugar acción ; Sistema nervioso central ; Sistema nervioso periférico ; Hombre ; Normal ; Trastorno cognitivo ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 1761, 35400007265169.0080