Vasopressin peptide (DDAVP) may narrow the focus of attention in normal elderly

Administration of DDAVP (1 desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin), a form of vasopressin with little pressor action, has been shown to improve cognitive performance in the elderly. It remains unclear whether memory processes are specifically influenced or more general processes are altered. Fifteen elderly subjects performed a central mental arithmetic task and a peripheral choice reaction time task in DDAVP and control conditions. DDAVP slowed reaction times to peripheral lights but did not alter arithmetic performance. The results suggest that DDAVP increases the proportion of attention allocated to primary task performance by decreasing attention to secondary tasks. This shift does not appear to be mediated by any action of DDAVP on peripheral cardiovascular function.