Dopamine neurotransmission and atypical antipsychotics in prefrontal cortex: a critical review

Schizophrenia has been historically characterized by the presence of positive symptomatology, however, decades of research highlight the importance of cognitive deficits in this disorder. At present, cognitive impairments remain one of the most important unmet therapeutic needs in schizophrenia. The...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Masana Nadal, Mercè, Santana Ramos, Noemí, Artigas Pérez, Francesc, Bortolozzi Biasoni, Analía
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/206593
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/206593
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Escorça frontal
Dopamina
Trastorns de la cognició
Antipsicòtics
Prefrontal cortex
Dopamine
Cognition disorders
Antipsychotic drugs
Descripción
Sumario:Schizophrenia has been historically characterized by the presence of positive symptomatology, however, decades of research highlight the importance of cognitive deficits in this disorder. At present, cognitive impairments remain one of the most important unmet therapeutic needs in schizophrenia. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) controls a large number of higher brain functions altered in a variety of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Histological studies indicate the presence of a large proportion of PFC neurons expressing monoaminergic receptors sensitive to the action of current atypical antipsychotics. Functional studies also show that these medications act at PFC level to increase dopamine neurotransmission in the mesocortical pathway. Here we focus on monoaminergic molecular targets that are actively being explored as potential therapeutic agents in the basic and clinical cognitive neuroscience research, to support the development of co-treatments used in conjunction with antipsychotic medications. These targets include dopamine and serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex, as well as elements of the noradrenergic system.