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beta-Adrenergic blockade and emotional memory in PTSD
C Reist1, J G Duffy, K Fujimoto
1Department of Psychiatry, VA Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA 90822, USA. creist@uci.edu
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
|January 25, 2002
Summary
Emotional arousal enhances memory, an effect reduced by propranolol. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients and controls showed similar memory enhancement and propranolol effects, suggesting no group differences in this emotional memory mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Emotional arousal is known to enhance memory consolidation.
- The noradrenergic system, modulated by propranolol, plays a role in this memory enhancement.
- Heightened arousal and distressing memories are key features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if individuals with PTSD exhibit differences in the emotional enhancement of memory compared to controls.
- To examine the effect of propranolol on emotional memory in PTSD and control groups.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen subjects with PTSD and 21 controls were administered either placebo or propranolol (40 mg).
- Participants were exposed to narrated slide stories under emotionally arousing or neutral conditions.
- Memory recall was assessed one week after exposure.
Main Results:
- Recall for the arousing story was enhanced, and this effect was attenuated by propranolol in both groups.
- No significant differences were found between PTSD and control subjects in memory acquisition or retention under either emotional condition.
- Propranolol did not show differential effects between the PTSD and control groups.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that individuals with PTSD do not differ from controls in the emotional enhancement of memory.
- The noradrenergic system's role in emotional memory enhancement appears comparable between PTSD patients and healthy controls.
- Propranolol effectively reduces emotional memory enhancement similarly across both groups.