Abstract
Zolpidem, a common medication for sleep complaints, also shows secondary, unexpected memory benefits. We previously found that zolpidem prior to a nap enhanced negative, highly arousing picture memory. As zolpidem is typically administered at night, how it affects overnight emotional memory processing is relevant. We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject, cross-over design to investigate if zolpidem boosted negative compared to neutral picture memory. Subjects learned both pictures sets in the morning. That evening, subjects were administered zolpidem or placebo and slept in the lab. Recognition was tested that evening and the following morning. We found that zolpidem maintained negative picture memory compared to forgetting in the placebo condition. Furthermore, zolpidem increased slow-wave sleep time, decreased rapid eye movement sleep time, and increased the fast spindle range in NREM. Our results suggest that zolpidem may enhance negative memory longevity and salience. These findings raise concerns for zolpidem administration to certain clinical populations.
Highlights
The inability to sleep is a pervasive, cross-cultural public health problem for which treatment can include therapeutic or pharmacological intervention (Morin & Benca, 2012; Peterson & Benca, 2006)
Given that the recommended usage and typical mode of zolpidem administration are for nocturnal sleep, our current study extends prior research to investigate the impact of zolpidem on emotional memory consolidation over a night of sleep
Our study provides important evidence for understanding the mechanisms of sleep-dependent emotional memory consolidation
Summary
The inability to sleep is a pervasive, cross-cultural public health problem for which treatment can include therapeutic or pharmacological intervention (Morin & Benca, 2012; Peterson & Benca, 2006). Another study investigated the impact of zolpidem on emotional memory using three levels of valence (positive, neutral, and negative) and two levels of arousal (low and high; Kaestner et al, 2013). They found zolpidem increased memory for emotionally arousing negatively valanced pictures, compared with a placebo and a comparison hypnotic, sodium oxybate (see Melendez et al 2005 and Hall-Porter et al, 2014 for studies that did not find memory enhancement with zolpidem)
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