Midazolam amnesia and retrieval from semantic memory: Developing methods to test theories of implicit memory.

Abstract

Studies of organic anterograde amnesia have been central to the development of theories of implicit memory. Pharmacological amnesia provides an additional method for exploring implicit memory, allowing for the experimental manipulation of amnesia and the testing of more participants. A significant concern with pharmacological amnesia is whether its cognitive effects are specific to explicit memory. The current research examines the effects of the benzodiazepine, midazolam, on retrieval from semantic memory and encoding in explicit memory. We focus on midazolam because it holds significant advantages over other benzodiazepines in inducing pharmacological amnesia and prior research suggests it may be useful for testing theories of implicit memory. Our results demonstrate that midazolam does not impair accuracy of retrieval from semantic categories, even when it produces anterograde amnesia for retrieved category items on a later recall test. These results suggest ways midazolam can be used to help test theories of implicit memory.

• Authors: Elliot Hirshman, Julia Fisher, Thomas Henthorn, Jason Arndt, Anthony Passannante
• Journal: Brain and cognition (Brain Cogn) Vol. 53 Issue 3 Pg. 427-32 (Dec 2003) ISSN: 0278-2626 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14642292 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Hypnotics and Sedatives
• Midazolam

Topics

• Adult
• Amnesia (chemically induced)
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypnotics and Sedatives (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Male
• Memory Disorders (diagnosis)
• Midazolam (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Semantics