Do oral contraceptives affect young women’s memory? Dopamine-dependent working memory is influenced by COMT genotype, but not time of pill ingestion

Background Despite the widespread use of oral contraceptives (OCs), and the well-documented influence of estrogens, notably 17β-estradiol (E2), on cognition, research relating OCs to working memory is limited and mixed. Two factors may contribute to these mixed findings: 1) pharmacokinetics of oral contraceptives, which drive fluctuations in synthetic hormone levels; and 2) genetic polymorphisms related to dopamine degradation and working memory, which interact with E2. This research investigated whether the pharmacokinetics of oral contraceptives, in concert with the single nucleotide polymorphism (Val158Met; rs4680) of the catechol-o-methyltransferase gene (COMT), influence working memory performance. Methods University-age women taking and not taking OCs were tested for working memory and genotyped for COMT. If they were not taking OCs (n = 62), sessions occurred in the early follicular (low E2) and late follicular (high E2) phase. If they were taking OCs (n = 52), sessions occurred 1–2 hours after (high ethinyl estradiol, EE) and ~24 hours after (low EE) pill ingestion. Working memory was tested using the N-back, AX-CPT, Digit Span, and Digit Ordering Tasks. Data were analyzed using multilevel models with estrogen condition, COMT, and group as predictors, controlling for mood and practice effects. Results For women taking OCs, time of pill ingestion did not influence performance. However, the subgroup with COMT val/val (low dopamine) were less accurate on 2-back lure trials than those with COMT met/met (high dopamine). For women not taking OCs, cycle phase moderated COMT’s influence on lure accuracy. When compared, women taking OCs had higher AX-CPT proactive control indices than those not taking OCs. Conclusion These findings suggest that oral contraceptives are not detrimental for young women’s working memory and that they may increase proactive control. The more pronounced effects of COMT in women taking OCs suggests that, in women taking OCs, suppressed endogenous E2–not fluctuating EE levels–may be more relevant for working memory. Future studies are needed to differentiate effects of endogenous versus synthetic estrogens on working memory.

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Effects of Acute Dopamine Precusor Depletion on Immediate Reward Selection Bias and Working Memory Depend on Catechol-O-methyltransferase Genotype

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_00464 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 25 (12) ◽

pp. 2061-2071 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Mary Katherine Kelm ◽

Charlotte A. Boettiger

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Individual Differences ◽

Selection Bias ◽

Intertemporal Choice ◽

Cycle Phase ◽

Comt Genotype ◽

Double Blind ◽

Acute Changes ◽

Reward Bias ◽

Age Range

Little agreement exists as to acute dopamine (DA) manipulation effects on intertemporal choice in humans. We previously found that catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met genotype predicts individual differences in immediate reward selection bias among adults. Moreover, we and others have shown that the relationship between COMT genotype and immediate reward bias is inverted in adolescents. No previous pharmacology studies testing DA manipulation effects on intertemporal choice have accounted for COMT genotype, and many have included participants in the adolescent age range (18–21 years) as adults. Moreover, many studies have included female participants without strict cycle phase control, although recent evidence demonstrates that cyclic estradiol elevations interact with COMT genotype to affect DA-dependent cognition. These factors may have interacted with DA manipulations in past studies, potentially occluding detection of effects. Therefore, we predicted that, among healthy male adults (ages 22–40 years), frontal DA tone, as indexed by COMT genotype, would interact with acute changes in DA signaling to affect intertemporal choice. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, we decreased central DA via administration of an amino acid beverage deficient in the DA precursors, phenylalanine and tyrosine, and tested effects on immediate reward bias in a delay-discounting (DD) task and working memory (WM) in an n-back task. We found no main effect of beverage on DD or WM performance but did find significant beverage*genotype effects. These results suggest that the effect of DA manipulations on DD depends on individual differences in frontal DA tone, which may have impeded some past efforts to characterize DA's role in immediate reward bias in humans.

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Effect of cortisol levels on working memory performance in elderly subjects with Alzheimer's disease

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/s0004-282x2008000500003 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 66 (3b) ◽

pp. 619-624 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Juliana Nery de Souza-Talarico ◽

Paulo Caramelli ◽

Ricardo Nitrini ◽

Eliane Corrêa Chaves

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Working Memory ◽

Digit Span ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Control Group ◽

Acute Administration ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Cortisol Levels

BACKGROUND: Subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have elevated cortisol levels as a result of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Acute administration of hydrocortisone has been associated with working memory (WM) performance in young adults. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether cortisol levels are associated with WM performance in subjects with AD. METHOD: Eighty subjects were included, comprising 40 patients with mild AD and 40 healthy elderly controls. WM was assessed using the Digit Span Backward test (DSB). Saliva samples were collected to determine cortisol levels. RESULTS: AD subjects had poorer performance on the DSB than controls (p=0.002) and also presented higher levels of cortisol than control group (p=0.04). No significant correlation was observed between the DSB and cortisol levels in both groups (r= -0.29). CONCLUSION: In this study, elevated cortisol levels were not associated with poorer WM performance in patients with AD or in healthy elderly subjects.

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Neural Underpinnings of Working Memory in Adult Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s135561771500051x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (7) ◽

pp. 494-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Tricia Z. King ◽

Sabrina Na ◽

Hui Mao

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Brain Tumors ◽

Posterior Fossa ◽

Parietal Lobe ◽

Digit Span ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Adult Survivors ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

Bold Response ◽

Childhood Brain Tumors

AbstractAdult survivors of childhood brain tumors are at risk for cognitive performance deficits that require the core cognitive skill of working memory. Our goal was to examine the neural mechanisms underlying working memory performance in survivors. We studied the working memory of adult survivors of pediatric posterior fossa brain tumors using a letter n-back paradigm with varying cognitive workload (0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-back) and functional magnetic resonance imaging as well as neuropsychological measures. Survivors of childhood brain tumors evidenced lower working memory performance than demographically matched healthy controls. Whole-brain analyses revealed significantly greater blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation in the left superior / middle frontal gyri and left parietal lobe during working memory (2-back versus 0-back contrast) in survivors. Left frontal BOLD response negatively correlated with 2- and 3-back working memory performance, Auditory Consonant Trigrams (ACT), and Digit Span Backwards. In contrast, parietal lobe BOLD response negatively correlated with 0-back (vigilance task) and ACT. The results revealed that adult survivors of childhood posterior fossa brain tumors recruited additional cognitive control resources in the prefrontal lobe during increased working memory demands. This increased prefrontal activation is associated with lower working memory performance and is consistent with the allocation of latent resources theory. (JINS, 2015, 21, 494–505)

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Laterality of Lesions and Trait-Anxiety on Working Memory Performance

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.2002.94.2.551 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 94 (2) ◽

pp. 551-558 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

William D. S. Killgore

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Left Hemisphere ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Right Hemisphere ◽

Digit Span ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Brain Lesion ◽

Cerebral Activation ◽

The Right

An asymmetry of anterior cerebral activation favoring the right hemisphere has been associated with dispositional negative affect including trait-anxiety, while the opposite appears true of cerebral asymmetry favoring the left hemisphere. It was hypothesized that an asymmetry of cerebral activation, as defined by scores on a measure of trait-anxiety, ipsilateral to the side of an anterior brain lesion would be associated with less efficient cognitive processing than greater activation in the hemisphere contralateral to the lesion. Patients with anterior left ( n = 16) or right ( n = 15) hemisphere lesions completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and several neurocognitive tasks. Of the abilities tested, only Digit Span scores showed an interaction between side of lesion and presumed activation asymmetry. Patients with right- but not with left-hemisphere damage showed significant differences in working memory performance depending on the presumed direction of asymmetry of the two hemispheres, supporting the dual roles of the right hemisphere in affective processing and directed attention.

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0632 Time of Day and Time on Task Effects on Working Memory and Sleepiness of Bus Drivers

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsz067.630 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A252-A252

Author(s):

Maryam Maghsoudipour ◽

Ramin Moradi ◽

Mostafa Pouyakian ◽

Mehdi Yaseri ◽

Sara Moghimi

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Epworth Sleepiness Scale ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Linear Mixed Model ◽

Digit Span ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Time Of Day ◽

Time On Task ◽

Bus Drivers ◽

Wechsler Adult Intelligence

Abstract Introduction Fatigue and sleepiness have direct effects on vigilance, and cognitive functions of drivers. The objective of this study was to analyze individual bus drivers' characteristics and work shift parameters and relation to the working memory performance and sleepiness. Methods This prospective study was conducted on 35 inter-city bus drivers by convenience sampling. We collected data during the time span of a 24-hour round trip by using the demographic questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and reversed digit span memory test (part of the Wechsler-Adult Intelligence Test). A linear mixed model was used for statistic analysis. Results The mean (± SD) of Epworth Sleepiness Scale score was 6.4 (±2.7). 12.5% of drivers had excessive daytime sleepiness according to ESS results. The circadian effect of time of day on the drivers' working memories was statistically significant (P=0.001), and the working memory was minimum at 04:00 am (± 1). Additionally, the differences in sleepiness at different times of day were statistically significant (P=0.001); with the highest score at 04:00 am (± 1). Time on task and time of sleep parameters did not show a significant effect on working memory (p> 0.05). Time on task parameter affected sleepiness significantly (p=0.024). Conclusion The circadian factor was the most important predictor of cognitive performance compared to time on task (fatigue) and time of sleep. Although, time on task had a significant effect on sleepiness and sleepiness significantly decreased working memory. We conclude that optimizing the drivers' schedule is the most important intervention to optimize drivers' performance and increase road safety. Support (If Any) Not

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Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Genotype Affects Age-Related Changes in Plasticity in Working Memory: A Pilot Study

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2014/414351 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Stephan Heinzel ◽

Thomas G. Riemer ◽

Stefanie Schulte ◽

Johanna Onken ◽

Andreas Heinz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Genetic Variation ◽

Behavioral Plasticity ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Dopamine Metabolism ◽

Comt Genotype ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Changes

Objectives. Recent work suggests that a genetic variation associated with increased dopamine metabolism in the prefrontal cortex (catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met; COMT) amplifies age-related changes in working memory performance. Research on younger adults indicates that the influence of dopamine-related genetic polymorphisms on working memory performance increases when testing the cognitive limits through training. To date, this has not been studied in older adults.Method. Here we investigate the effect of COMT genotype on plasticity in working memory in a sample of 14 younger (aged 24–30 years) and 25 older (aged 60–75 years) healthy adults. Participants underwent adaptive training in then-back working memory task over 12 sessions under increasing difficulty conditions.Results. Both younger and older adults exhibited sizeable behavioral plasticity through training (P<.001), which was larger in younger as compared to older adults (P<.001). Age-related differences were qualified by an interaction with COMT genotype (P<.001), and this interaction was due to decreased behavioral plasticity in older adults carrying the Val/Val genotype, while there was no effect of genotype in younger adults.Discussion. Our findings indicate that age-related changes in plasticity in working memory are critically affected by genetic variation in prefrontal dopamine metabolism.

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Examining the Relation Among Subjective Age and Working Memory in Old Age on a High-Frequency Basis Across 7 Days

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2011 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 598-598

Author(s):

Anna Lücke ◽

Jelena Siebert ◽

Oliver Schilling ◽

Denis Gerstorf ◽

Ute Kunzmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Subjective Age ◽

Short Term ◽

Daily Routines ◽

Change Dynamics ◽

Dementia Risk ◽

Frequency Basis

Abstract While increasing longitudinal evidence suggests that negative age views accelerate cognitive decline and increase dementia risk, we know little about such co-variance dynamics on a daily basis. We make use of subjective age and working memory performance data obtained six times a day over seven consecutive days as people went about their daily routines from 123 young-old (aged 66-69 years, 47.2% women) and 42 old-old (aged 86-90 years, 55.8% women) adults. Notably, multilevel models revealed considerably-sized short-term intra-individual variation of subjective age and working memory within days and these short-term within-day fluctuations in subjective age and working memory were coupled as expected. Hence, increased subjective age went along with lowered working memory confirming previous research. However, the respective between-day associations appeared reversed. Given this evidence of correlated short-term variability, we also discuss implications of different change dynamics that might explain moment-to-moment versus day-to-day associations between subjective age and working memory.

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The influence of schooling on working memory performance in elderly individuals without cognitive decline

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/s1980-57642008dn10300009 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 276-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Juliana Nery de Souza-Talarico ◽

Paulo Caramelli ◽

Ricardo Nitrini ◽

Eliane Corrêa Chaves

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Digit Span ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽

Statistical Correlation ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Cognitive Changes ◽

Elderly Individuals ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

The Difference

Abstract Over recent decades, research on cognition has been developed rapidly toward better understanding the cognitive changes that usually occur during normal aging. There is evidence that elderly individuals have worse working memory performance than young adults. However, the effect of education on this cognitive function remains unclear. Objectives: To analyze the performance of healthy elderly subjects on working memory tasks and to verify the influence of educational level on this performance. Methods: Forty elderly individuals without cognitive impairment and fully independent, were randomly chosen from a group of subjects participating in cultural activities at the university campus. The Digit Span Forward (DSF) test was used to evaluate attention performance. The working memory performance was assessed by the Digit Span Backward (DSB) and the difference between DSF and DSB. The data were statistically analyzed using the Spearman's correlation coefficient to verify the correlation between the Digit Span (DS) scores and the variables age and schooling, while the Multiple Linear Regression Model was used to verify the effect of these variables on the DS scores. Results: A significant positive correlation (r=0.41, p<0.01) as well as a significant association (b=0.506; p=0.001; CI 95%= 0.064/0.237) were found between years of schooling and DSB scores. It was not observed statistical correlation (r= -0.08, p=0.64) or association (b=0.41; p=0.775; CI 95%= -0.049/0.065) between age and DSB scores. Conclusion: In this study, higher levels of schooling were associated with better working memory performance in cognitively healthy elders.

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Working memory and left medial temporal cortical thickness

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/0004-282x20160123 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 74 (10) ◽

pp. 785-790

Author(s):

Giuseppe Pastura ◽

Tadeu Takao Almodovar Kubo ◽

Maria Angélica Regalla ◽

Cíntia Machado Mesquita ◽

Gabriel Coutinho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Cortical Thickness ◽

Medial Temporal Lobe ◽

Digit Span ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Magnetic Resonance Scan ◽

Thickness Measurements ◽

First Time

ABSTRACT Objective To perform a pilot study to investigate the association between working memory and cortical thickness in a sample of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children. Methods Seventeen children aged 7-10 years diagnosed with ADHD and 16 healthy children underwent a magnetic resonance scan for cortical thickness measurements. Data was correlated with working memory performance using the Backwards Digit Span subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Results Working memory impairment, evidenced by lower scores on the Backwards Digit Span, was observed in patients with ADHD compared to healthy controls. There was a direct correlation between working memory and cortical thickness of the left medial temporal lobe (Spearman’s correlation coefficient: 0.499; p < 0.005). Conclusions Our data suggests, for the first time, a correlation between working memory, evaluated by the Backwards Digit Span, and left medial temporal cortical thickness.

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Using a Modified Lag Task to Measure Adult Age Differences in Working Memory

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/10.22.23.pr0.110.3.709-718 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 110 (3) ◽

pp. 709-718

Author(s):

Olga Remick ◽

David Ross ◽

Richard Metzger ◽

Tonya Benton ◽

Jill Shelton

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Age Differences ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Digit Span ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Age Groups ◽

Divergent Validity ◽

Complex Span ◽

Adult Age ◽

Operation Span

Four groups of adults, ages 40 to 70+ years, took the Modified Lag Task which requires that participants remember lists of words and subsequently recall the first, second, or third word from the end of the list. Previously, the task showed convergent validity with the operation span (a complex span measure) and a divergent validity with the digit span (a simple span measure). To establish predictive validity, the present study was designed to assess if this task could separate four age groups in working memory performance. The present study found support for the validity of the Modified Lag Task; however, additional research is warranted to further develop the construct validity of this task.

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