Catecholaminergic modulation of indices of cognitive flexibility: A pharmaco-tDCS study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dopaminergic activity within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) has been implicated in the control of cognitive flexibility. Much of the evidence for a causative relationship between cognitive flexibility and dopamine has come from animal studies, whilst human data have largely been correlational.

Objective/hypothesis

The current study examines whether changes in dopamine levels through tyrosine administration and suppression of dlPFC activity via cathodal tDCS could be causally related to cognitive flexibility as measured by task switching and reversal learning.

Methods

Using a crossover, double-blind, sham controlled, counterbalanced, randomized trial, we tested the effects of combining cathodal tDCS with tyrosine, a catecholaminergic precursor, w

SUBMITTER: Dennison O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7116420 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar - Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature