Propofol and memory: a study using a process dissociation procedure and functional magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

SummaryThirty volunteers randomly received either mild or deep propofol sedation, to assess its effect on explicit and implicit memory. Blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance during sedation examined brain activation by auditory word stimulus and a process dissociation procedure was performed 4 h after scanning. Explicit memory formation did not occur in either group. Implicit memories were formed during mild but not deep sedation (p = 0.04). Mild propofol sedation inhibited superior temporal gyrus activation (Z value 4.37, voxel 167). Deep propofol sedation inhibited superior temporal gyrus (Z value 4.25, voxel 351), middle temporal gyrus (Z value 4.39, voxel 351) and inferior parietal lobule (Z value 5.06, voxel 239) activation. Propofol only abolishes implicit memory during deep sedation. The superior temporal gyrus is associated with explicit memory processing, while the formation of both implicit and explicit memories is associated with superior and middle temporal gyri and inferior parietal lobule activation.

Pten Inhibitor-bpV Ameliorates Early Postnatal Propofol Exposure-Induced Memory Deficit and Impairment of Hippocampal LTP

“…This was consistent with propofol-induced memory deficit. Although acute application of propofol also caused a decrease of LTP in adult hippocampal slices, mechanisms underlying the detrimental effects of postnatal application might be different [2,3]. In adult hippocampal slices, acute application of propofol might function through GABAa to inhibit hippocampal LTP, however requiring a much higher concentration [23,24].…”

“…Although it was considered to be safe, adverse effects were still reported, especially in central nerve system [1]. Among the adverse effects, memory loss was critical [2,3]. In young population, propofol was admitted to be an effective anesthetic.…”

“…Propofol acute application in slice from adult animals affects hippocampal LTP in CA1 region [2,3]. Critically, early postnatal propofol application has also been demonstrated to inhibit hippocampal LTP in adult phase [5].…”

Detrimental effects of postnatal exposure to propofol on memory and hippocampal LTP in mice

“…Although effects of propofol on memory and hippocampal LTP in adult animals were reported before (Quan et al, 2013;Veselis et al, 2004), long-term effect of propofol after early postnatal application was not totally disclosed. In this study, fear conditioning memory, LTP and LTD in adolescent animals were measured BRES : 44338 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 2...…”

“…Although it is thought to be safe, adverse effects were still reported especially in regulating the nerve system (Devlin et al, 2010;Inada et al, 2001). After propofol application, memory decrease has been found in adolescents (Quan et al, 2013;Veselis et al, 2004). This phenomena is normal, because propofol was supposed as an allosteric potentiator and agonist of GABAa receptors (Davies et al, 1998).…”