ERP effects of methylphenidate and working memory load in healthy adults during a serial visual working memory task

Neuroscience Letters
Petra StuderHartmut Heinrich

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate neuronal processing during the encoding, retention and retrieval phases of a serial visual working memory task. Particularly, we were interested in how these phases are affected by working memory load and how processing is modulated by methylphenidate. Healthy adults were asked to memorize the order of four, five or six pictures under methylphenidate (20mg) and under placebo while brain electrical activity was recorded. On the performance level, the number of correct responses decreased with increasing working memory load. Concerning brain electrical activity, in the encoding phase P3 amplitudes increased at midline electrodes with increasing memory load while load had no effect in the retention and retrieval phase. Medication neither influenced performance nor the different processing stages significantly. Our data provide evidence that during the encoding phase more attentional resources are allocated in trials with higher load as reflected by larger P3 amplitudes.

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Citations

Jul 19, 2011·Psychophysiology·Peter R MurphyRedmond G O'connell
Jan 16, 2014·The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology·A M W LinssenW J Riedel
Oct 31, 2016·Neuroscience Research·Tianyi SunXiuyan Guo
Aug 28, 2012·Journal of Attention Disorders·Kimberly R Urban, Wen-Jun Gao
Jun 15, 2017·Frontiers in Psychology·Rumeysa Gunduz CanDirk Koester
Aug 11, 2020·Cerebral Cortex·Yingying Tan, Peter Hagoort
Jul 28, 2020·European Neuropsychopharmacology : the Journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Carl A RobertsCatharine Montgomery

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