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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00980408

The Influence of Glutamate on Memory in Humans

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Individuals

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH

Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia, 52428, Germany

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Sugar pill

Drug

250 mg, one dose, 60 min prior

Other names: Placebo condition for D-Cycloserine, behavioral study

glutamic acid

Drug

250 mg, one dose, 60 minutes prior

Other names: D-Cycloserine, King Pharmaceuticals

Memantine

Drug

20 mg, one dose, 8 hours prior

Other names: Axura, Merz

Primary outcomes

  1. fMRI during learning task

    Time frame: once at drug administration

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Bonn

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The NMDA Receptor Co-agonist D-cycloserine Accelerates Associative Learning in the Human Hippocampal CA Region

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2011
First posted
Sep 21, 2009
Registry last updated
Dec 3, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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