Year: 1990
Type: article
Abstract: Amphetamine, epinephrine, and glucose enhance memory storage when administered shortly after training. Amphetamine enhancement of memory storage may be mediated by peripheral epinephrine actions, and epinephrine enhancement of memory storage may involve increases in blood glucose levels. Amphetamine and possibly epinephrine also enhance memory retrieval when administered shortly before testing. To examine the parallels in pharmacological enhancement of memory storage and retrieval, we tested the effects on memory of injections of amphetamine (1.0 mg/kg), epinephrine (0.05 mg/kg), or glucose (100 mg/kg) administered prior to retention tests in mice. Mice were trained in a one-trial inhibitory (passive) avoidance task. Thirty minutes prior to testing, each mouse received an injection of saline, amphetamine, epinephrine, or glucose. In a second experiment, rats were trained on a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task and were administered glucose (100,250, or 500 mg/kg) prior to testing. The results indicate that amphetamine, epinephrine, and glucose all significantly enhanced learned performance, supporting the view that similar neuroendocrine systems may contribute to both memory storage and retrieval. In addition, these findings provide another demonstration that peripheral glucose injections modify behavior.
Source: Psychobiology
DOI: 10.3758/bf03327231
Institution: University of Virginia
Language: English
Topic: Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Award: G849082163
OpenAlex ID: W775968164