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Vasopressin and memory: improvement in normal short-term recall and reduction of alcohol-induced amnesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Keith Millar
Affiliation:
Behavioural Sciences Section, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital and Medical School, Nottingham
William J. Jeffcoate
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Nottingham
Cristine P. Walders*
Affiliation:
Behavioural Sciences Section, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital and Medical School, Nottingham
*
* Addresses for correspondence: Dr K. Millar, Behavioural Sciences Group, Universityof Glasgow, 4 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QQ.; or Dr W. J. Jeffcoate, Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Nottingham.

Synopsis

The vasopressin analogue 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) has been shown in healthy male volunteers to cause significant improvement in short-term memory and to reduce alcohol-induced amnesia. There was no significant effect upon semantic retrieval or simple reaction time. It was concluded that vasopressin benefited the initial processes of consolidation and learning, while the reduction of the amnesic effects of alcohol may support the contentions of other authors that the peptide improves memory in states of mild amnesia.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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