The Influence of Glutamate on Memory in Humans

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2011-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The hippocampus is particularly laden with n-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, and is at the same time one of the most important sites in declarative memory. The rationale of this study is that the NMDA partial agonist D-Cycloserine will promote learning compared to a placebo. On the other hand, the NMDA receptor antagonist Memantine might lead to reduced memory. We believe that the influence of NMDA receptors on memory can be determined via acute co-activation of the NMDA receptors with Cycloserine® (King Pharmaceuticals Ltd, active ingredient: DCycloserin, dose: 250 mg) and Memantine (Axura®, Merz, active ingredient: Memantine, dose: 20 mg)on both a behavioral and functional (fMRI) level.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital, Bonn
• Treatments: Cycloserine; Memantine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• German native language or native language level

• Able to give written informed consent

• right-handed

Exclusion Criteria:

• inability to give written informed consent, underaged minors, contractually incapable persons, persons in legal custody

• any psychiatric, neurological or internal illness

• hematoporphyria (enzyme sickness)

• intake of medication (except oral contraceptives)

• simultaneous participation in other clinical studies

• hypersensitivity to Memantine or other anti-dementia substances, or to D-Cycloserine

• alcohol abuse

• epilepsy

• depression

• serious anxiety or psychosis

• serious kidney insufficiency

• intake of Ethionamide or Isoniazide

• pregnancy or women who are nursing

• liver or kidney problems

• intake of NMDA-antagonists, such as Amantadine, Ketamine, or Dextromethorphan

• vegetarians

• stomach ulcer, if treated with medication

• renal tubular acidosis

• urinary infections (with proteus bacteria)

• recent heart attack, heart failure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure

• intake of L-Dopa, dopaminergic agonists, and anticholinergics

• intake of barbiturates, spasmolytics, Phenytoin, Amantadine, oral coagulators, warfarin, HCT (Hydrochlorothiazide)

• heart or cranial operations

• pacemaker, medication pump (such as insulin pump), hearing aid, removable prosthodontics

• metal in or on body (such as acupuncture needles, artificial limbs, stents, metal splints, clips, implanted electrodes, tattoos, or piercings)

• claustrophobia