Research Article

Cognitive effects of a Ginkgo biloba/vinpocetine compound in normal adults: systematic assessment of perception, attention and memory

  1. John Polich*,
  2. Rebecca Gloria

Article first published online: 11 JUN 2001

DOI: 10.1002/hup.308

Issue

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental

Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental

Volume 16, Issue 5, pages 409–416, July 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Polich, J. and Gloria, R. (2001), Cognitive effects of a Ginkgo biloba/vinpocetine compound in normal adults: systematic assessment of perception, attention and memory. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, 16: 409–416. doi: 10.1002/hup.308

Author Information

  1. Department of Neuropharmacology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA

*Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Neuropharmacology TPC-10, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 JUL 2001
  2. Article first published online: 11 JUN 2001
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 2 APR 2001
  4. Manuscript Received: 1 MAR 2000

Funded by

  • Cognitive Care, Inc.

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Keywords:

  • Ginkgo biloba;
  • cognitive assessment;
  • perception;
  • attention;
  • short-term memory

Abstract

A computerized test battery was used in a double-blind design to assess the cognitive effects of a nutrient compound containing Ginkgo biloba in 24 normal adults. Ten tasks (perceptual, attention and short-term memory) were presented in a standardized manner designed to maximize performance, with substantial pre-test practice employed to minimize response variability. Subjects were given either placebo or Ginkgo biloba extract capsules to consume for 14 days, after which they performed all tasks twice. They then received the other condition, and after 14 days completed the final test session. Response time and error rate stabilized after pre-test practice. A ‘working memory capacity’ paradigm demonstrated a reliable 50 ms response time decrease between the placebo and Ginkgo biloba testing, suggesting that Ginkgo biloba speeds short-term working memory processing in normal adults. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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