ENHANCEMENT BY AN AMPAKINE OF MEMORY ENCODING IN HUMANS

A centrally active drug that enhances AMPA receptor-mediated currents was tested for its effects on memory in humans. Evidence for a positiv e influence on encoding was obtained in four tests: (i) visual associa tions, (ii) recognition of odors, (iii) acquisition of a visuospatial maze, and (iv) location and identity of playing cards. The drug did no t improve scores in a task requiring cued recall of verbal information . The selectivity of drug effects on memory was confirmed using tests of visual recognition, motor performance, and general intellectual fun ctioning. These results suggest that positive modulators of AMPA recep tors selectively improve at least some aspects of memory. (C) 1997 Aca demic Press.