ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Key words Benzodiazepine
;
Lorazepam
;
Human
;
Memory
;
Auditory priming
;
Visual priming
;
Explicit memory
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Rationale: Lorazepam has been repeatedly shown to impair both explicit memory and perceptual priming, a form of implicit memory, in the visual domain. However, the effects of this benzodiazepine on priming in other perceptual domains, such as auditory priming, have never been explored. Objective:The present study investigated whether the deleterious effects of lorazepam on perceptual priming are restricted to the visual domain, or if they could be extended to the auditory domain. Methods: Thirty-two healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to two parallel groups, placebo and lorazepam 0.038 mg/kg. The drug was administered orally, following a double-blind procedure. In the same subjects, perceptual priming was assessed in the auditory and visual domains using similar word-stem completion tasks, and explicit memory was explored using a free- recall task. Results: Lorazepam markedly reduced free-recall performance for visually and auditorily presented words. Lorazepam equally impaired visual and auditory priming. In the auditory word-stem completion task, prior presentation of a word facilitated perception of its stem in the placebo group. This facilitation effect was not observed in the lorazepam group. The lorazepam-induced impairment of priming was not due to sedation or explicit contamination. Conclusion: These results indicate that the deleterious effects of lorazepam on priming are not restricted to the visual modality, but extend to the auditory modality.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002130051166
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