Both antipsychotic and anticholinergic drugs have been implicated in the production of the memory deficits seen in schizophrenia. We compared the effects of chlorpromazine (50 mg) and benzhexol (5 mg) with placebo on a battery of tests of memory, psychomotor function and mood, in 12 healthy volunteers. Benzhexol, but not chlorpromazine, impaired both word recall and word recognition. Neither drug had an effect on long-term memory Both active compounds were associated with self-rated sedation, and chlorpromazine produced impairment in saccadic eye movements. This study supports the contention that sedation is unlikely to be the mechanism by which anticholinergic drugs exert their amnestic effect.