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No effect of acute tryptophan depletion on verbal declarative memory in young persons with ADHD
Author(s) -
Zepf F. D.,
Landgraf M.,
Biskup C. S.,
Dahmen B.,
Poustka F.,
Wöckel L.,
Stadler C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.12089
Subject(s) - psychology , declarative memory , verbal learning , verbal memory , crossover study , young adult , cognition , neurotransmitter , developmental psychology , audiology , central nervous system , neuroscience , clinical psychology , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , placebo
Objective Animal experiments and studies in adults have shown that the neurotransmitter serotonin (5‐ HT ) plays an important role in learning and memory processes. However, data on this relationship in young persons are scarce, and neurodietary research in this age group is limited compared with the extensive literature on adults. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of a diminished central nervous 5‐ HT synthesis, which is achieved by acute tryptophan depletion ( ATD ) Moja‐De [1][Dingerkus VL, 2012], [2][Biskup CS, 2012], on memory function in young males with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ). Method Twenty‐two male patients with ADHD (ages 9–15 years, mean 10.95 ± 1.17 years) received ATD , thus diminishing central nervous 5‐ HT synthesis, and a tryptophan‐balanced amino acid load ( BAL ) in a randomized, double‐blind, within‐subject, crossover design study. Approximately 1.7 h after administration of ATD / BAL , verbal declarative memory was assessed using the ‘Auditory Verbal‐Learning‐Test’ ( AVLT ). Results There were no significant effects of ATD administration on verbal declarative memory function. Conclusion In this study, changes in 5‐ HT neurotransmission were not associated with specific aspects of verbal declarative memory in young persons with ADHD . Future studies with healthy control groups that address effects of covarying attentional processes are warranted.