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Tryptophan depletion in normal volunteers produces selective impairment in memory consolidation.
Open accessAbstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) circuits may play a role in cognitive performance, particularly in learning and memory. Cognitive impairment is often seen in depressed patients, in whom 5-HT turnover in the brain is thought to be lowered. A possible human pharmacological model to study the involvement of the serotonergic system in cognitive impairment is to reduce central 5-HT synthesis through L-tryptophan depletion in healthy subjects. In this study, the cognitive effects of tryptophan depletion were assessed and whether genetically or developmentally determined vulnerability factors were predictive of the cognitive impairment induced by tryptophan depletion. Sixteen healthy volunteers with a positive family history of depression and 11 without were given 100 g of an amino acid mixture with or without tryptophan, according to a double-blind, cross-over design. Tryptophan depletion specifically impaired long-term memory performance in all subjects: delayed recall performance, recognition sensitivity, and recognition reaction times were significantly impaired after tryptophan depletion relative to placebo. Short-term memory and perceptual and psychomotor functions were unchanged. There were no differences between groups with a positive and a negative family history for depression. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that tryptophan depletion specifically impairs long-term memory formation, presumably as a result of an acute decrease in 5-HT turnover in the brain.
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“New learning is dependent upon adequate food intake and subsequent protein and neurotransmitter synthesis (109–111).”
From The integrated treatment of eating disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychiatric comorbidity: a commentary on the evolution of principles and guidelines (2023) · cites this paper as [111]
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“The action of the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the hippocampus is known to facilitate the process of hippocampal learning and memory (Riedel et al., 1999; Buhot et al., 2000).”
From Aerobic Exercise as a Tool to Improve Hippocampal Plasticity and Function in Humans: Practical Implications for Mental Health Treatment (2016) · cites this paper as Riedel et al., 1999
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Metadata
- Authors
- Riedel, W. J., Klaassen, T., Deutz, N. E. P., van Someren, A., & van Praag, H. M.
- Affiliations
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 1999-02-01
- Volume
- 141
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 362-369
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- OpenAlex
- W1963545345
- Cited by
- 271
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 5.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- other-oa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Universiteit Maastricht
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- tryptophan depletion, serotonin, memory consolidation, long-term memory, cognitive impairment, family history of depression, serotonergic system, depression, recognition memory, delayed recall, healthy volunteers
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Amino Acids, Cognition, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Learning, Male, Memory Disorders, Middle Aged, Sex Characteristics, Tryptophan, Cross-Over Studies
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