Effect of tolcapone on brain activity during a variable attentional control task: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, counter-balanced trial in healthy volunteers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Attention is the capacity to flexibly orient behaviors and thoughts towards a goal by selecting and integrating relevant contextual information. The dorsal cingulate (dCC) and prefrontal (PFC) cortices play critical roles in attention. Evidence indicates that catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) modulates dopaminergic tone in the PFC and dCC.

Objective

In this study, we explored the effect of tolcapone, a CNS penetrant COMT inhibitor that increases cortical dopamine levels, on brain activity during a Variable Attentional Control (VAC) task.

Study design

We performed a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, counter-balanced trial with tolcapone (Tasmar, tablets, 100 mg three times a day for 1 day and then 200 mg three times a day for 6 days; ClinicalTrials.gov i

SUBMITTER: Magalona SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4135358 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature