Guanfacine modulates the influence of emotional cues on prefrontal cortex activation for cognitive control.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Functional interactions between limbic regions that process emotions and frontal networks that guide response functions provide a substrate for emotional cues to influence behavior. Stimulation of postsynaptic α₂ adrenoceptors enhances the function of prefrontal regions in these networks. However, the impact of this stimulation on the emotional biasing of behavior has not been established.

Objectives

This study tested the effect of the postsynaptic α₂ adrenoceptor agonist guanfacine on the emotional biasing of response execution and inhibition in prefrontal cortex.

Methods

Fifteen healthy young adults were scanned twice with functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a face emotion go/no-go task following counterbalanced administration of single

SUBMITTER: Schulz KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3567242 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature