Effects of diazepam and beta-CCM on working memory in mice: relationships with emotional reactivity

This study was aimed at determining the effects of systemic administration of diazepam and methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta -CCM) both on spa tial working memory and on emotional reactivity in mice. Results showed tha t diazepam and beta -CCM induced opposite effects in both memory and emotio nal reactivity tests. Indeed, as a function of dose, diazepam reduced anxio genic-like reactions but increased vulnerability to interference in the mem ory task at a 30-s but not at a 5-s delay interval. As a function of dose, beta -CCM reduced vulnerability to interference and increased emotional rea ctivity, these effects being antagonised by concurrent administration of fl umazenil (RO 15-1788). Thus, our study showed the bidirectional effects of these two drugs on a spatial working memory task involving a spontaneous pr ocessing of information and suggested a direct link between the emotional e ffects of the drugs and memory performance. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.