SPECIFIC MEMORY AND SEDATIVE EFFECTS OF THE BENZODIAZEPINE TRIAZOLAM

Fifteen normal volunteers were administered placebo, 0.250, 0.375 and 0.500 mg of triazolam in a double-blind cross-over design. Triazolam i nduced robust dose-dependent impairments in explicit memory of informa tion presented after drug administration. Subjects were unaware of the ir memory deficit (an impairment in meta-cognition). In contrast, memo ry for information presented prior to the administration of triazolam was facilitated following the administration of low doses of triazolam . Implicit memory and access to knowledge memory was unaltered by this benzodiazepine, An analysis of these results controlling for concurre nt sedation as measured subjectively, through the use of self rating s cales and objectively, based upon psychomotor performance, demonstrate d that the amnestic effects of triazolam are largely independent of se dative effects. The pattern of memory changes induced by benzodiazepin es, such as triazolam, is similar to the memory inpairment expressed i n amnestic patients but unlike the pattern of impaired memory evident in dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.