Advanced Central Effects of Yohimbine on the Cognitive Function, Psychomotor Performance Task and Working Memory: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Study

Hayder M. Al-Kuraishy *

Department of Pharmacology and medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriya University, P.O.Box 14132, Baghdad, Iraq.

Ali I. Al-Gareeb *

Department of Pharmacology and medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriya University, P.O.Box 14132, Baghdad, Iraq.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Systemic administration of yohimbine lead to powerful anxiety-promoting effects and facilitated long-term performances, due to α2- adrenergic receptor action , while its effect on the extinction of reward-related memories are probabilistically independent of their effects on α2- adrenergic receptors. So the objective of presenting study was to evaluate the enhancement effects of yohimbine on psychomotor performance and working memory in normal young healthy volunteers. Twenty subjects (10 females: 10 males) randomly chosen by medical students. They were healthy, young volunteers aged 21 - 23 years were incorporated in the study while those with proof of any disease were excluded. The participants were permitted to practice on both the psychomotor tester and the n-back task (working memory test) to obtain familiarity with those tests before the commencement of the trial. Yohimbine significantly improve human psychomotor reaction time, and critical flicker fusion threshold significantly (p<0.05) also it improve accuracy rates in both 1-Back and 2-Back significantly (p<0.05) but produced insignificant effects on 3-Back (p>0.05).
In conclusion yohimbine improve psychomotor performances and working memory, thus advance the cognitive function via activation of noradrenergic system.

Keywords: Yohimbine, psychomotor performances, working memory.


How to Cite

Al-Kuraishy, H. M. and Al-Gareeb, A. I. (2015) “Advanced Central Effects of Yohimbine on the Cognitive Function, Psychomotor Performance Task and Working Memory: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Study”, Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 5(5), pp. 328–335. doi: 10.9734/BJPR/2015/15255.