Noradrenergic stimulation enhances human action monitoring

Noradrenergic neurotransmission has been associated with the modulation of higher cognitive functions mediated by the prefrontal cortex. In the present study, the impact of noradrenergic stimulation on the human action-monitoring system, as indexed by eventrelated brain potentials, was examined. Aft...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Riba, Jordi, Rodríguez Fornells, Antoni, Morte, Adelaida, Münte, Thomas F., Barbanoj, Manel J.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2005
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/65265
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/65265
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Potencials evocats (Electrofisiologia)
Escorça cerebral
Catecolamines
Conducta (Psicologia)
Evoked potentials (Electrophysiology)
Cerebral cortex
Catecholamines
Human behavior
Descripción
Sumario:Noradrenergic neurotransmission has been associated with the modulation of higher cognitive functions mediated by the prefrontal cortex. In the present study, the impact of noradrenergic stimulation on the human action-monitoring system, as indexed by eventrelated brain potentials, was examined. After the administration of a placebo or the selective 2 -adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine, which stimulates firing in the locus ceruleus and noradrenaline release, electroencephalograpic recordings were obtained from healthy volunteers performing a letter flanker task. Yohimbine led to an increase in the amplitude of the error-related negativity in conjunction with a significant reduction of action errors. Reaction times were unchanged, and the drug did not modify the N2 in congruent versus incongruent trials, a measure of preresponse conflict, or posterror adjustments as measured by posterror slowing of reaction time. The present findings suggest that the locus ceruleus<br>noradrenaline system exerts a rather specific effect on human action monitoring.