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Working memory reloaded: tyrosine repletes updating in the N-back task
Lorenza S Colzato1, Bryant J Jongkees1, Roberta Sellaro1
1Institute for Psychological Research, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University , Leiden , Netherlands.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|January 1, 2014
Summary
The food supplement l-Tyrosine (TYR) enhances cognitive control, specifically improving working memory performance in demanding tasks. This suggests TYR can boost mental resources when cognitive effort is high.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Nutritional Neuroscience
Background:
- Cognitive control relies on specific resources that can be depleted during demanding tasks.
- L-Tyrosine (TYR) is a precursor to dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for cognitive functions.
- Working memory (WM) updating is a key component of cognitive control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if L-Tyrosine (TYR) supplementation can enhance working memory (WM) updating, a cognitive-control function.
- To determine if TYR selectively benefits cognitive operations that require significant control.
Main Methods:
- Participants were administered TYR or a placebo.
- A cognitive task (N-back) was used, comparing a WM-demanding 2-back condition with a less demanding 1-back condition.
- Performance metrics were analyzed to assess the impact of TYR on cognitive control.
Main Results:
- TYR significantly improved performance in the 2-back condition (high WM demand).
- TYR did not significantly affect performance in the 1-back condition (low WM demand).
- These findings suggest a selective effect of TYR on cognitive control.
Conclusions:
- L-Tyrosine (TYR) can replenish cognitive resources needed for demanding cognitive-control tasks.
- Dietary intake, specifically of TYR, may act as a cognitive enhancer.
- This research highlights the role of biochemical precursors in supporting cognitive functions.
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