Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of physostigmine on memory test performance in normal volunteers

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of an intraveneous infusion of physostigmine (0.94 mg infused over 60 min) on performance in memory tests were studied in 12 young subjects. Drug effects were modest and are discussed in relation to results of physostigmine studies in Alzheimer patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersson K, Hockey GRJ (1977) Effects of cigarette smoking on incidental memory. Psychopharmacology 52:223–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartus RT, Dean RL, Beer B, Lippa AS (1982) The cholinergic hypothesis of geriatric memory dysfunction. Science 217:408–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Beller SA Overall JE, Swann AC (1985) Efficacy of oral physostigmine in primary degenerative dementia. Psychopharmacology 87:147–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis KL, Mohs RC, Tinklenberg JR, Pjefferbaum A, Hollister LE, Kopell BS (1978) Physostigmine: Improvement of long-term memory processes in normal subjects. Science 201:272–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Drachman DA, Leavitt J (1974) Human memory and the cholinergic system. Arch Neurol 30:113–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Drachman DA, Sahakian BJ (1980) Memory and cognitive function in the elderly: a preliminary trial of physostigmine. Arch Neurol 37:674–675

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunne MP, Hartley LR (1985) The effects of scopolamine upon verbal memory: Evidence for an attentional hypothesis. Acta Psychol 58(3):205–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghoneim MM, Mewaldt SP (1977) Studies in human memory: The interactions of diazepam, scopolamine and physostigmine. Psychopharmacology 52:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman Gilman A, Goodman LS, Gilman A (1980) The pharmacological basis of therapeutics. Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen RC (1977) Scopolamine induced learning failures in man. Psychopharmacology 52:283–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith CM, Swash M (1978) Possible biochemical basis of memory disorder in Alzheimer's disease. Ann Neurol 3:471–473

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith CM, Semple CA, Swash M (1982) Effects of physostigmine on responses in memory tests in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In: Corkin S, Davis KL, Growdon JH, Usdin E, Wurtman RJ (eds) Alzheimer's disease. Review of progress. Aging, Vol. 19, Raven Press, New York, pp 403–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Thal LJ, Masur MS, Sharpless NS, Fuld PA, Davies P (1984) Acute and chronic effects of oral physostigmine and lecithin in Alzheimer's disease. In: Wurtman RJ, Corkin SH, Growdon JH (eds) Alzheimer's disease: advances in basic research and therapies. Center for Brain Sciences and Metabolism Charitable Trust

  • Thorndike EL, Lorge I (1944) The Teacher's Word Book of 30,000 words. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Warburton DM, Wesnes K (1984) Drugs as research tools in psychology: Cholinergic drugs and information processing. Neuropsychobiology 11:121–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Whelpton R (1983) Analysis of plasma physostigmine concentrations by liquid chromatography. J Chromatog 272:216–220

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Smith, C.M., Coogan, J.S. & Hart, S. Effects of physostigmine on memory test performance in normal volunteers. Psychopharmacology 90, 364–366 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179192

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179192

Key words

Navigation