Ginkgo biloba promotes short-term retention of spatial memory in rats

This study examines possible interactions between exposure to Ginkgo biloba extract and enriched environments on the acquisition and retention of spatial learning following massed and spaced trials. After 4 weeks of exposure to either ginkgo or vehicle, 8-week-old rats were tested using a Morris Water Maze in either massed or spaced trials. While ginkgo did not have an effect on maze acquisition or long-term retention, it did promote short-term retention of spatial memory. Following reversal training, ginkgo promoted short-term retention for two groups but impaired retention for a third. These results suggest that ginkgo has powerful effects on short-term retention that vary with training conditions. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.