Figure 1.

When a drug is administered during a memory task and when memory is tested can have different implications for which phase of memory was impacted. a) Drug administration takes place before encoding with memory tested immediately after. Drug effects (i.e., drug vs. placebo differences) on encoding, consolidation, and retrieval are confounded. b) Drug administration takes place before encoding with memory tested after a delay (after drug effects have dissipated). Drug effects are confounded between encoding and consolidation. c) Drug administration takes place immediately after encoding with memory tested immediately after. Drug effects are confounded between consolidation and retrieval. d) Drug administration takes place immediately after encoding with memory tested after a delay. Drug effects are isolated to consolidation. e) Drug administration takes place before a delayed memory test. Drug effects are isolated to retrieval. Note, these are heuristics likely with exceptions.