Page 112 - The Memory Program How to Prevent Memory Loss and Enhance Memory Power

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tronic button— was now so fast that the test itself seemed to have become slow. In fact, later that
same day I asked if the presentation of the nonsensical shapes had been slowed down for me, and I
was told bluntly that this had not occurred.

This is a well-known effect of not only amphetamines but also cocaine. Messages are transmitted
and processed much faster by nerve cells, probably because of increased dopamine
neurotransmission. This effect of amphetamines has been used by students to cram for exams at the
last minute.

Toxic Effects: Psychosis

With both drugs, excessive dopamine release can cause psychosis with hallucinations (hearing and
seeing things that are not there) and delusions (false, bizarre beliefs). Amphetamine-induced
psychosis symptoms are similar to paranoid schizophrenia, while cocaine-induced psychosis is
typically associated with grandiosity and the hallucination of bugs crawling on the skin. The
psychiatric symptoms are paramount, and memory loss is secondary.

Narcotic Addiction

Narcotics were originally extracted as opium from poppies. Narcotics swing into action by attaching
themselves to opiate (a type of chemical) receptors in the brain. Heroin, which is a first cousin of
morphine, is the most addictive of this class of drugs. Even though some people get away with using
heroin occasionally, for many others the addictive power is profound. Gene Hackman gave a
terrifyingly accurate portrayal of heroin addiction and withdrawal in the movie The French
Connection. Heroin is a central nervous system depressant and leads to lethargy, poor attention, and
secondary memory loss.

Watch Out for Prescription Narcotics

Prescription narcotics like oxycodone (Percodan or Percocet) and codeine (Tylenol 3; remember Jack
Kaufman's case in chapter 7) can produce a decline in many cognitive skills. The effects of these
substances tend to be subtle, which is why most people who take them do not recognize their impact
on memory. If you are taking one of these medications regularly and have begun to experience
memory loss, check with your doctor for possible nonnarcotic options.