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Noradrenergic modulation of working memory and emotional memory in humans

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Abstract

Rationale

Noradrenaline (NA) is implicated in arousal. Working memory is dependent upon prefrontal cortex, and moderate levels of NA are thought to facilitate working memory whereas higher levels during extreme stress may impair working memory and engage more posterior cortical and sub-cortical circuitry. The NA system also influences emotional memory via modulation of the amygdalae and related mediotemporal structures. NA dysfunction and abnormalities in arousal-dependent memory functions are evident in a variety of neuropsychiatric illnesses.

Objectives

The authors provide a concise overview of pharmacological studies that have investigated effects of selective NA manipulations on working memory and emotional memory functions in healthy human volunteers.

Materials and methods

Selection of relevant peer-reviewed publications was based on a PubMed search.

Results

Studies to date indicate that: (1) the beta-blocker propranolol impaired working and emotional memory, (2) clonidine frequently impaired working memory, and (3) reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, enhanced emotional memory for positive material.

Conclusions

Improved understanding of coupling between NA, cortico-subcortical circuitry and human mnemonic functions will suggest novel therapeutic directions for the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Future research directions are discussed in relation to neuroimaging techniques, functional central nervous system polymorphisms and study designs.

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Abbreviations

ADHD:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

fMRI:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

NA:

Noradrenaline

PAL:

Paired associates learning

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PFC:

Prefrontal cortex

PTSD:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

SNRI:

Selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor

SSRI:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

SWM:

Spatial working memory

WM:

Working memory

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Wellcome Trust (Programme Grant 076274/Z/04/Z awarded to TWR, BJ Everitt, AC Roberts and BJS) and the Medical Research Council (Pathfinder Grant to UM, Priority Studentship to SRC). The Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute is funded by a joint award from the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust. ADB, TWR and BJS consult for Cambridge Cognition. We would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their very helpful suggestions and improvements on a draft version of the manuscript. Samuel R. Chamberlain and Ulrich Müller have contributed equally to this paper and are the corresponding authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Box 189, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK

    Samuel R. Chamberlain, Ulrich Müller, Andrew D. Blackwell & Barbara J. Sahakian

  2. Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Ulrich Müller & Trevor W. Robbins

  3. Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Samuel R. Chamberlain, Ulrich Müller, Andrew D. Blackwell, Trevor W. Robbins & Barbara J. Sahakian

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  1. Samuel R. Chamberlain
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  2. Ulrich Müller
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Correspondence to Samuel R. Chamberlain or Ulrich Müller.

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Chamberlain, S.R., Müller, U., Blackwell, A.D. et al. Noradrenergic modulation of working memory and emotional memory in humans. Psychopharmacology 188, 397–407 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0391-6

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