Sedation and Memory Consolidation

Summary

The study of plasticity processes, in particular, memory, is one of the fundamental directions in anesthesiology. To date, there are different views on the impact of sedation and anesthesia on memory. Memory consolidation is one of the most crucial processes that the anesthesiologist is interested in. Memory consolidation is the mechanism of transferring short-term memory to long-term memory. The investigators suppose that propofol or dexmedetomidine sedation disrupts memory consolidation. In addition, the investigators inquired about the impact of sedation on 'working memory'. Therefore, a better understanding of the influence of anesthesia and sedation on basic memory processes will allow the anesthesiologist to balance the choice of the drug and ensure the patient's safety in the intraoperative period.

Conditions

• Memory Impairment
• Amnesia
• Recall
• Recognition

Interventions

DRUG

Influence of propofol sedation on memory consolidation and 'working memory'

Spinal anesthesia is performed by anesthesiologist. Memory testing is conducted immediately prior to propofol sedation (stage 1), 5-10 minutes after the start of propofol sedation (stage 2), 10 minutes after propofol sedation is finished and consciousness is restored (stage 3). Five emotionally neutral words are heard by the patients twice at each stage to assess the impact of sedation on memory consolidation. The patients repeat the memorized words after each audition. To assess the effect of sedation on the 'working memory', anesthesiologist asked the patient to remember and reproduce the memorized words five minutes after learning in the second stage. Approximately, 24 hours after the end of anesthesia, recall and recognition of the experimental words are tested. The number of words in recall and recognition testing is recorded by researcher.

DRUG

Influence of dexmedetomidine sedation on memory consolidation and 'working memory'

Spinal anesthesia is performed by anesthesiologist. Memory testing is conducted immediately prior to dexmedetomidine sedation (stage 1), 5-10 minutes after the start of dexmedetomidine sedation (stage 2), 10 minutes after dexmedetomidine sedation is finished and consciousness is restored (stage 3). Five emotionally neutral words are heard by the patients twice at each stage to assess the impact of sedation on memory consolidation. The patients repeat the memorized words after each audition. To assess the effect of sedation on the 'working memory', anesthesiologist asked the patient to remember and reproduce the memorized words five minutes after learning in the second stage. Approximately, 24 hours after the end of anesthesia, recall and recognition of the experimental words are tested. The number of words in recall and recognition testing is recorded by researcher.

DRUG

Influence of spinal anesthesia on memory consolidation and 'working memory'

Spinal anesthesia is performed by anesthesiologist. Memory testing is conducted immediately prior to operation (stage 1), 5-10 minutes after the start of operation (stage 2), 10 minutes before the end of operation (stage 3). Five emotionally neutral words are heard by the patients twice at each stage to assess the impact of sedation on memory consolidation. The patients repeat the memorized words after each audition. To assess the effect of sedation on the 'working memory', anesthesiologist asked the patient to remember and reproduce the memorized words five minutes after learning in the second stage. Approximately, 24 hours after the end of anesthesia, recall and recognition of the experimental words are tested. The number of words in recall and recognition testing is recorded by researcher.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Vyacheslav Churakov, PgS · I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-05-11

Primary Completion

2022-01-13

Completion

2022-01-13

Countries

• Russia

Study Locations