Cited by 142Thermoregulation and physiological responsesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorThermal Regulation in Medicine

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Tyrosine reverses a cold-induced working memory deficit in humans

Shurtleff, David, Thomas, John R., Schrot, John, Kowalski, Kathleen, Harford, Robert·1994·Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

DOI 10.1016/0091-3057(94)90299-2

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Abstract

Acute exposure to cold stress has been shown to impair short-term, or working, memory, which may be related to reduction in, or disruption of, sustained release of brain catecholamines. Administering a supplemental dose of the catecholamine precursor tyrosine may alleviate cold stress-induced memory impairments by preventing cold-induced deficits in brain catecholamine levels. The present experiment determined whether administration of tyrosine would prevent a cold-induced working memory deficit, using a computer-based delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) memory task. Eight male volunteers performed the DMTS task for 30 min at an ambient temperature of either 4 degrees C (cold) or 22 degrees C following a 30-min preexposure period and 2 h after ingesting 150 mg/kg of L-tyrosine or placebo. Subjects demonstrated a decline in matching accuracy on the DMTS task as delay interval increased, such that matching accuracy following a 16-s delay between sample and comparison stimuli was lower than that following a delay of 2 or 8 s. Consistent with previous research, and relative to 22 degrees C exposure sessions, matching accuracy during 4 degrees C exposure sessions was reduced significantly following placebo administration, which is attributed to the effect of cold exposure on short-term, or working, memory. Administration of tyrosine significantly improved matching accuracy at the longest delay interval most affected by cold exposure, such that matching accuracy in the cold following tyrosine was at the same level as matching accuracy following placebo or tyrosine administration at 22 degrees C. Tyrosine administered prior to 22 degrees C exposure had no effect on DMTS performance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Authors: Shurtleff, D., Thomas, J. R., Schrot, J., Kowalski, K., & Harford, R.
Affiliations: Naval Medical Research Command (US)
Corresponding author: Shurtleff, David
Venue: Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 1994-04
Volume: 47
Issue: 4
Pages: 935-941
ISSN: 0091-3057 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(94)90299-2
OpenAlex: W2049053055
Cited by: 142
References: 35
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 2.23
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Office of Naval Research
U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Thermal Regulation in Medicine
Keywords: tyrosine, cold stress, working memory, short-term memory, catecholamines, norepinephrine, delayed matching-to-sample, memory impairment, stress response, blood pressure
MeSH terms: Adult, Blood Pressure, Brain, Cold Temperature, Dopamine, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Neuropsychological Tests, Norepinephrine, Skin Temperature, Tyrosine

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Tyrosine reverses a cold-induced working memory deficit in humans

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