Sedation and Memory Consolidation

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.

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.

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.