FACILITATORY EFFECTS OF CHRONICALLY ADMINISTERED CITICOLINE ON LEARNING AND MEMORY PROCESSES IN THE DOG

1. Citicoline (cytidine (5') diphosphocholine) has been shown to rever se aging-induced memory deficits, scopolamine-induced amnesia and nucl eus basalis magnocellularis lesion-induced learning impairment. 2. Thi s study aimed to evaluate the effects of citicoline on learning and re trieval processes in a complex differential reinforcement of response duration schedule in normal dogs. 3. The effects of citicoline on a st abilized performance were also measured in order to be able to differe ntiate specific memory effects from non specific influences on the mot or, neuro-vegetative and motivational systems. 4. The results demonstr ate that citicoline can exert facilitatory effects on learning and mem ory but also on retrieval processes. The complete absence of effects o n the stabilized performance and on the motor, neuro-vegetative and mo tivational systems constitutes arguments in favour of a selectivity of action on the memory processes.