Drug May possibly Assist Overwrite Bad Memories
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Recalling painful memories while under the influence of the drug metyrapone reduces the brain’s ability to re-record the negative emotions associated with them, according to University of Montreal researchers in the Centre for Studies on Human Tension of Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital. The team’s study challenges the theory that memories can’t be modified once they are stored within the brain. “Metyrapone is actually a drug that substantially decreases the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that is involved in memory recall,” explained lead author Marie-France Marin. Manipulating cortisol close towards the time of forming new memories can decrease the negative emotions that could be associated with them. “The results show that when we decrease anxiety hormone levels in the time of recall of a negative event, we can impair the memory for this negative event with a long-lasting effect,” stated Dr. Sonia Lupien, who directed the investigation.
Thirty-three males participated in the study, which involved learning a story composed of neutral and negative events. Three days later, they were divided into three groups – participants in the very first group received a single dose of metyrapone, the second received double, whilst the third had been given placebo. They were then asked to keep in mind the story. Their memory efficiency was then evaluated again 4 days later, once the drug had cleared out. “We identified that the men in the group who received two doses of metyrapone had been impaired when retrieving the negative events of the story, while they showed no impairment recalling the neutral parts of the story,” Marin explained. “We were surprised that the decreased memory of negative information was still present once cortisol levels had returned to typical.”
The study offers hope to individuals suffering from syndromes including post-traumatic pressure disorder. “Our findings could help men and women deal with traumatic events by offering them the opportunity to ‘write-over’ the emotional part of their memories for the duration of therapy,” Marin said. 1 key hurdle, however, could be the reality that metyrapone is no longer commercially produced. Nevertheless, the findings are quite promising in terms of future clinical remedies. “Other drugs also decrease cortisol levels, and further studies with these compounds will enable us to gain a greater understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in the modulation of negative memories.”
About the researchers
Marie-France Marin
Doctoral student
Centre for Studies on Human Tension of Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
Fernand-Seguin Research Centre of Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
University of Montreal’s Department of Physiology
Doctoral scholarship, Canadian Institutes of Health Study (CIHR)
Dr. Sonia Lupien
Director, Centre for Studies on Human Pressure of Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
Director, Fernand-Seguin Investigation Centre of Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
Full Professor, University of Montreal’s Department of Psychiatry
Senior Investigator, CIHR Analysis Chair on Mental Well being in Men and FemalesWell being Investigation and was published inside the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Source:
University of Montreal
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