Dopamine Activity, Episodic Memory Consolidation, Response Preparation
Conditions
Keywords
dopamine, EEG, episodic memory, contingent negative variation, response preparation, levodopa, methylphenidate
Brief summary
A recent study at our lab showed increased episodic memory consolidation and response readiness after treatment with methylphenidate in healthy volunteers. The investigators seek to replicate and extend these findings. Furthermore the pharmacological specificity of these effects will be studied. Since methylphenidate has an effect on two neurotransmitters, dopamine and noradrenaline, either could be responsible for the observed effects. In order to explore the dopaminergic contribution to this effect, the study proposed here includes not only methylphenidate but also levodopa/carbidopa, which only affects dopamine and not noradrenaline. In this study, 20 healthy males and females between 18 and 45 years of age will participate. They will be recruited via advertisements at Maastricht University and in local newspapers. Participants will be treated once with methylphenidate, once with levodopa/carbidopa and once with placebo. All medications will be administered orally with a capsule. It is hypothesized that methylphenidate and levodopa/carbidopa will both enhance episodic memory consolidation and improve response readiness
Interventions
DRUGMethylphenidate 40 mg
Oral dose 40 mg
DRUGLevodopa/carbidopa 125 mg
oral dose, 100 mg levodopa, 25 mg carbidopa in one capsule
DRUGDomperidon 10 mg
Domperidon 10 mg
Sponsors
Maastricht University Medical Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male or female * 18 to 45 years of age * Healthy (i.e. absence of all
Exclusion criteria
), normal static binocular acuity (corrected or uncorrected), * Body mass index between 18.5 and 30 * Willingness to sign an informed consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral score on the Word learning test | 1 day | Number of words recalled in the word learning test |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CNV amplitude | 1 day | Amplitude of the CNV wave in the EEG |
| Reaction time on the CNV | 1 day | Reaction time in the response preparation task in which CNV is measured |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed