The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on recognition memory decision processes and discrimination in postmenopausal women.

Full Abstract

In this article, the theoretical distinction between recognition memory decision and discrimination processes is used to explore the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women. DHEA is an adrenal steroid that diminishes with aging. It has enhanced memory in laboratory animals. An 8-week placebo-controlled, double-blind experiment in which 30 women (ages 39-70) received a 50-mg/day oral dose of DHEA for 4 weeks demonstrated that DHEA made subjects more conservative (i.e., less likely to call test items "old") in their recognition memory decisions and enhanced recognition memory discrimination for items presented briefly. The former result may reflect an empirical regularity (Hirshman, 1995) in which recent strong memory experiences make participants more conservative. The latter result may reflect the effect of DHEA on visual perception, with consequent effects on memory. These results suggest the methodological importance of focusing on decision processes when examining the effects of hormones on memory.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Hirshman, Elliot (E); Wells, Ellen (E); Wierman, Margaret E (ME); Anderson, Benjamin (B); Butler, Andrew (A); Senholzi, Meredith (M); Fisher, Julia (J);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20052, USA. ellioth(-atsign-)gwu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Psychonomic bulletin & review (Psychon Bull Rev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Mar; vol 10 (issue 1) : pp 125-34

Dates: Created 2003/05/15; Completed 2003/08/05; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12747499, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Administration, Oral
Adult
Affect - drug effects
Aged
Attention - drug effects
Cross-Over Studies
Decision Making - drug effects
Discrimination Learning - drug effects
Female
Humans

Memory, Short-Term - drug effects
Mental Recall - drug effects
Middle Aged
Postmenopause - drug effects
Psychomotor Performance - drug effects
Reaction Time - drug effects
Reading
Retention (Psychology) - drug effects
Signal Detection (Psychology)
Verbal Learning - drug effects

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.