Dopaminergic modulation of emotional memory in Parkinson's disease

J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2008 Aug;115(8):1159-63. doi: 10.1007/s00702-008-0061-4. Epub 2008 May 28.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of dopaminergic treatment on emotional memory in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We tested memory for emotional and neutral visual stimuli in ten non-demented PD patients on and off dopaminergic medication. Patients recalled significantly more emotional items during the off- than on-medication testing session. In contrast, treatment condition did not affect memory for neutral items. These findings demonstrate that emotional memory deficits observed in PD may result from dopaminergic treatment and suggest an involvement of dopaminergic neurotransmission in emotional processing.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antiparkinson Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use
  • Dopamine / physiology*
  • Dopamine Agents / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Emotions / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Mental Recall / drug effects
  • Mental Recall / physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Parkinson Disease / psychology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Dopamine Agents
  • Dopamine