Human cognitive flexibility depends on dopamine D2 receptor signaling.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Accumulating evidence indicates that the cognitive effects of dopamine depend on the subtype of dopamine receptor that is activated. In particular, recent work with animals as well as current theorizing has suggested that cognitive flexibility depends on dopamine D2 receptor signaling. However, there is no evidence for similar mechanisms in humans.

Objectives

We aim to demonstrate that optimal dopamine D2 receptor signaling is critical for human cognitive flexibility.

Methods

To this end, a pharmacological pretreatment design was employed. This enabled us to investigate whether effects of the dopamine receptor agonist bromocriptine on task-set switching were abolished by pretreatment with the D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride. To account for individual (genet

SUBMITTER: van Holstein M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3210362 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature