Differential effects of the anxiolytics diazepam and buspirone on cognition

126 reinforcement trained

probability

with

ment,

the

75%

and

reinforcement showed increased

and

spatial

history

responding

probability groups.

100%

response

alternation

strategies.

It is concluded triggers

Differential Anton

was

(I)

Department

Agnieszka

it is well

anterograde

when

subsequently

what

is learned

facilitation.

The

reinforcement

auditory

to irrelevant

Unrug

diazepam

from

Of interest

prior

to drug

latter

effect

history

with

the

and (2)

the

effect found,

reinforcement

than the other

and not a decrease

was three

in reinforcement

on cognition

The Nethd~ncis

what

This

is generally

still

patterns

reinforcement

lowest

stimulus

anxiolytics

is learned

of the benzodiazepine after

also, is the fact that subjects

intake.

response

random

and buspirone

that the classical

Recall

after

van Luijtelaar

of Nijmegen,

established

amnesia.

trials

stimuli.

and Gilles

University

tested.

Rats

auditory

increase

100

to reach criterion;

probability

stimulus.

pre-

of reinforce-

21 out of 24 animals

Differential

of trials

more to the irrelevant

responding

In the first

light-dependent

decreased.

that an uncontrollable

of Psychology,

Nowadays,

expected,

Subjects

an increase

a decrease.

the number

effects of the anxiolytics

Coenen,

induce

As

have changed.

experience

on the light stimulus,

patterns

irrelevant

will

experience

The only

responded

that conditions

of 25%

will

patterns.

to the

history

probability

group

does not affect:

changes in response on

to detect

probability

had been given contingent

spatial

probability

of 50%

reinforcement

remarkable interpreted

drug

intake

tend to recall more from

phenomenon in terms

type

is impaired

is called

retrograde

of a decreased

retroactive

interference. The

reason

a hypothesis The

lower

better

for the improved

level of encoding

recall of this

In order diazepam (Buspar).

to

investigate

(Valium)

were

Before

interference

intake is still

leads to a reduction

of pre-drug

information,

unclear

but

of encoding. explaining

the

information. the

role

compared (15

of vigilance, with

effects

those

mg>, buspirone

of the

of the newer

(15

classical anxiolytic

vigilance.

benzodiazepine drug

buspirone

Cognitive

mg) or placebo were

studied

effects of in healthy

(n = 12). and after drug intake

the subjects anterograde other

hand,

results

are

of the three amnesia no in

benzodiazepines character

after benzodiazepine and vigilance

is that this latter drug does not decrease

dose of diazepam

volunteers

prevents

pre-drug

Of interest

a single

performance

is that the decrease of alertness

differences of

the

are mediated

of the drug.

neuropsychological

were

and retrograde

general favour

several

groups

tested

facilitation between

hypothesis

that

directly could

be established

buspirone the

tests were

applied.

Memory

later.

As expected,

and one week and

effects

on

by the changed levels of vigilance

for diazepam.

placebo memory

were

On the

found.

caused

of

by

The the

and not by the anxiolytic