Effects of acute administration of melatonin on attentional, executive, and working memory processes in rats

Melatonin is a potential candidate for additive therapy in cancer, neurodegenerative, and mental disorders requiring administration during the activity phase. Nevertheless, because melatonin has mostly been used as a hypnotic, less is known about its cognitive effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of acute administration of melatonin on executive, attentional, and working memory processes in rats during the activity phase. Three doses of melatonin (6, 18, or 36 mg/kg) were tested and compared to a saline control group in two behavioral tests: the Attentional Set Shifting task (for attentional and executive processes assessment) and the Spontaneous Alternation test in a Y-maze (for working memory assessment). Our results revealed that, up to 36 mg/kg, the acute administration dose of melatonin did not alter the attentional or executive processes, nor the working memory in rats. Consequently, this result may be encouraging for the use of melatonin in additive therapy during the activity phase.