Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on memory, attention and executive functions: A systematic review
Open accessAbstract
The serotonergic system is implicated in the regulation of mood and cognition. Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) is an experimental procedure for lowering central serotonin levels. Here, the effects of ATD on psychomotor processing, declarative memory, working memory, executive functions and attention are discussed. The most robust finding is that ATD impairs the consolidation of episodic memory for verbal information. Semantic memory appears to be unaffected by ATD although a limited variety of tasks examined effects in this domain. Similarly, evidence suggests ATD does not influence verbal, spatial and affective working memory. Most studies investigating effects on executive functions have produced non-specific or negative findings. In terms of attention, ATD either does not affect or may improve focused attention and ATD likely does not impact sustained and divided attention or attentional set-shifting. Although ATD is known to affect mood in certain vulnerable populations, the effects of ATD on cognition in non-vulnerable participants are independent of mood changes. Suggestions for future directions and implications for psychiatric illnesses are discussed.
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Increased serotonin and catecholamine levels induced by antidepressant intake might compensate for the memory-impairing effects of REM-sleep suppression.
“On the other hand, the increase in sero-tonin and catecholamine levels induced by antidepressant intake might compensate for the memory-impairing effects of REM-sleep suppression, as these neurotransmitters have been implicated in memory consolidation processes (815, 842, 1011).”
From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [815]
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- Authors
- Mendelsohn, D., Riedel, W. J., & Sambeth, A.
- Affiliations
- Western University (CA)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Sambeth, Anke
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-06
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 926-952
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2066018239
- Cited by
- 175
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 0.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- 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 › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Keywords
- acute tryptophan depletion, serotonin, episodic memory consolidation, verbal memory, semantic memory, working memory, executive function, attention, divided attention, set-shifting, mood, cognitive effects
- MeSH terms
- Attention, Brain, Cognition, Emotions, Humans, Memory, Psychomotor Performance, Semantics, Serotonin, Space Perception, Tryptophan
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