Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Working Memory

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this information.

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory

Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...

Long-Term Memory

Long-Term Memory

Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...

Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Stability Enhancement and GI Retention

Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Stability Enhancement and GI Retention

Improving a drug's stability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is paramount for enhancing its bioavailability and therapeutic effectiveness. Various strategies are employed to protect the drug from the harsh gastric milieu and to ensure its release and absorption at the desired site within the GI tract.Polymer coatings are one such method used to shield drugs from the stomach's acidic environment. By preventing premature drug release, these coatings improve the bioavailability of unstable...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Feedback from group III/IV afferents in skeletal muscle slows heart rate acceleration when transitioning from rest to low-intensity exercise in males.

Experimental physiology·2026

Same author

Appetite regulation following energy restriction with almond-enriched vs. nut-free diets - a randomised controlled trial.

Obesity research & clinical practice·2026

Same author

The swift study: dietary profiles of night shift workers characterised by overweight and obesity.

European journal of nutrition·2026

Same author

Sports Nutrition.

Current developments in nutrition·2026

Same author

Temporal Patterns of Eating and Diet Composition of Night Shift Workers Are Influenced More by Shift Type than by Chronotype.

Nutrients·2025

Same author

Reply to H Yoshida and Y Fujuioka.

The American journal of clinical nutrition·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

Published on: February 26, 2014

Soya isoflavone supplementation enhances spatial working memory in men.

Alicia A Thorp¹, Natalie Sinn, Jonathan D Buckley

¹Nutritional Physiology Research Centre and ATN Centre for Metabolic Fitness, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

The British Journal of Nutrition

|June 2, 2009

Summary

Soya isoflavone supplementation improved spatial working memory in healthy men, potentially by activating oestrogen beta receptors (ERbeta). This suggests a way to enhance cognitive functions in males that are typically better in females.

More Related Videos

Place and Response Learning in the Open-field Tower Maze

Place and Response Learning in the Open-field Tower Maze

Published on: October 28, 2015

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Published on: November 29, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models

Published on: February 26, 2014

Place and Response Learning in the Open-field Tower Maze

Place and Response Learning in the Open-field Tower Maze

Published on: October 28, 2015

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Published on: November 29, 2024

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Endocrinology
Cognitive Psychology

Background:

Sex differences exist in cognitive performance, with females often outperforming males in specific memory tasks.
These differences may be linked to circulating estrogen acting on estrogen beta receptors (ERbeta) in brain regions crucial for cognition.
Soy isoflavones are known ERbeta agonists, suggesting potential cognitive benefits for males through supplementation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of chronic isoflavone supplementation on cognitive function in healthy males.
To determine if isoflavones can enhance memory-related tasks where females typically show superior performance.

Main Methods:

A 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving 34 healthy men.
Participants received either soy isoflavones (116 mg/day) or placebo for 6 weeks, followed by the alternate treatment.
Cognitive assessments included memory, executive function, and visual-spatial processing, conducted at baseline and after each treatment period.

Main Results:

Isoflavone supplementation significantly improved spatial working memory performance.
Compared to placebo, isoflavones led to fewer attempts, errors, and less time to complete spatial working memory tasks.
No significant effects were observed on auditory memory, episodic memory, executive function, or visual-spatial processing.

Conclusions:

Chronic isoflavone supplementation may enhance specific cognitive processes in healthy males, particularly spatial working memory.
These cognitive enhancements appear linked to estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) activation.
Further research could explore isoflavones for modulating cognitive functions influenced by estrogen pathways.