Abstract
Verbal learning was measured during the administration of l-DOPA in large oral doses to depressed patients. Longer-term memory on two different tasks improved during treatment, while short-term memory (immediate recall) was unaffected. In contrast, the catecholamine synthesis inhibitor α-methyl-p-tyrosine did not alter either memory process.
The effects of l-DOPA on learning may be related to increased arousal produced by this drug.
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliography
Ansel, R. D., Markham, C. H.: Effects of l-DOPA in normal humans. In: l-DOPA and Parkinsonism, A. Barbeau and F. H. McDowell, eds., pp. 69–72. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis 1970.
Atkinson, R. C., Shiffrin, R. W.: Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. In: The psychology of learning and motivation, K. W. Spence and K. T. Spence, eds., pp. 89–195, New York: Academic Press 1968.
Barondes, S. H., Cohen, H. D.: Arousal and the conversion of “short-term” to “long-term” memory. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 61, 923–929 (1968).
Barondes, S. H., Cohen, H. D.: Multiple steps in the biology of memory. In: The neurosciences, F. O. Schmitt, ed., vol. 2, pp. 272–278. New York: Rockefeller University Press 1970.
Brodie, H. K. H., Murphy, D. L., Goodwin, F. K., Bunney, W. E., Jr.: Catecholamines and mania: The effect of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine on manic behavior and catecholamine metabolism. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 12, 218–224 (1971).
Brown, J. W., DiMascio, A., Klerman, G. L.: Exploratory study on phrenotropic drugs on competitive paired-associate learning. Psychol. Rep. 4, 583–589 (1958).
Buchsbaum, M., Goodwin, F. K., Murphy, D. L., Borge, G.: Average evoked responses in affective disorders. Presented at the American Psychiatric Association Meeting, San Francisco 1970.
Bunney, W. E., Jr., Brodie, H. K. H., Murphy, D. L., Goodwin, F. K.: Studies of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine, l-DOPA, and tryptophan in depression and mania. Amer. J. Psychiat. 127, 872–881 (1971).
Bunney, W. E., Jr., Hamburg, D. A.: Methods for reliable longitudinal observation of behavior. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 9, 280–294 (1963).
Calne, D. B., Sandler, M.: l-DOPA and parkinsonism. Nature (Lond.) 226, 21–24 (1970).
Cotzias, G. C., Van Woert, M. H., Schiffer, L. M.: Aromatic amino acids and modification of parkinsonism. New Engl. J. Med. 276, 374–379 (1967).
Deese, J.: The structure of associations in language and thought. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press 1965.
Everett, G. M., Wiegand, R. G.: Central amines and behavioral states: a critique and new data. Proc. First Int. Pharmacol. Meetings, vol. 8, pp. 85–92 (1962).
Fram, D. H, Murphy, D. L., Goodwin, F. K., Brodie, H. K. H., Bunney, W. E., Jr., Snyder, F.: l-DOPA and sleep in depressed patients. Psychophysiology 7, 316–317 (1970).
Goodwin, F. K., Murphy, D. L., Brodie, H. K. H, Bunney, W. E., Jr.: l-DOPA, catecholamines and behavior: A clinical and biochemical study in depressed patients. Biol. Psychiat. 2, 341–366 (1970).
Henry, G. M., Weingartner, H., Murphy, D. L.: Idiosyncratic patterns of learning and word-association during mania. Amer. J. Psychiat. 128, 564–584 (1971).
Henry, G. M., Weingartner, H., Murphy, D. L.: Memory and amines in affective disorders. Amer. J. Psychiat. (in press).
Kety, S. S.: The central psychological and pharmacological effects of the biogenic amines and their correlations with behavior. In: The neurosciences, G. S. Quarton, T. Melnechuk and F. O. Schmitt, eds., pp. 444–451. New York: Rockefeller University Press 1967.
Kety, S. S.: The biogenic amines in the central nervous system: Their possible roles in arousal, emotion and learning. In: The neurosciences, F. O. Schmitt, ed., vol. 2, pp. 324–336. New York: Rockfeller University Press 1970.
Kety, S. S.: The possible role of the adrenergic systems of the cortex in learning. Res. Publ. Ass. nerv. ment. Dis. 50 (in press) (1972).
Loranger, A. W., Goodwell, H., Lee, J. E., McDowell, F.: Levodopa treatment of Parkinson's syndrome. Arch. gen. Psychiat. 26, 163–168 (1972).
Livingston, R. B.: Reinforcement. In: The neurosciences, G. S. Quarton, T. Melnechuk and F. O. Schmitt, eds., pp. 568–577. New York: Rockfeller University Press 1967.
Mandler, G.: Organization in memory. In: The psychology of learning and motivation, K. W. Spence and K. T. Spence, eds., pp. 327–372. New York: Academic Press 1967.
Marsh, G. G., Markham, C. M., Ansel, R.: Levodopa's awakening effect on patients with parkinsonism. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 84, 209–218 (1971).
Moore, K. E., Rech, R. H.: Reversal of α-methyltyrosine-induced behavioral depression with dihydroxyphenylalanine and amphetamine. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 19, 405–407 (1967).
Murphy, D. L.: l-DOPA, behavioral activation and psychopathology. Res. Publ. Ass. nerv. ment. Dis. 50 (in press) (1972).
Murphy, D. L., Brodie, H. K. H., Goodwin, F. K., Bunney, W. E.: Regular induction of hypomania by l-DOPA in “bipolar” manic-depressive patients. Nature (Lond.) 229, 135–136 (1971).
Peeke, H. V. S., Herz, M. J.: Caudate nucleus stimulation retroactively impairs complex maze learning in the rat. Science 173, 80–82 (1971).
Randt, C. T., Quartermain, D., Goldstein, M., Anagnoste, B.: Norepinephrine biosynthesis inhibition: Effects on memory in mice. Science 172, 498–499 (1971).
Roberts, R. B., Flexner, J. B., Flexner, L. B.: Some evidence for the involvement of adrenergic sites in the memory trace. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 66, 310–313 (1970).
Seiden, L. S., Hanson, L. C. F.: Reversal of the reserpine-induced suppression of the conditioned avoidance response in the cat by l-DOPA. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 6, 239–244 (1964).
Takagi, H., Satoh, M., Yamatsu, K., Kimura, K., Nakama, M.: Central effects of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and 5-hydroxytryptophane on tetrabenazine pretreated rabbits with special reference to the possible role of catecholamines and serotonin in the brain. Int. J. Neuropharmacol. 7, 265–273 (1968).
Voith, K., Herr, F.: The effects of various antidepressant drugs upon the tetrabenazine-suppressed conditioned avoidance response in rats. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 20, 253–265 (1971).
Weingartner, H., Snyder, S. H., Faillace, L. A., Markley, H.: Altered free associations: Some cognitive effects of DOET (2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethyl-amphetamine). Behav. Sci. 15, 297–303 (1970).
Weingartner, H., Snyder, S. H., Faillace, L. A., Markley, H.: Verbal information retention in alcoholics. Quart. J. Stud. Alcohol 32, 293–303 (1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Murphy, D.L., Henry, G.M. & Weingartner, H. Catecholamines and memory: Enhanced verbal learning during l-DOPA administration. Psychopharmacologia 27, 319–326 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429385
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429385