Noradrenergic stimulation enhances human action monitoring

J Neurosci. 2005 Apr 27;25(17):4370-4. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4437-04.2005.

Abstract

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 event-related brain potentials, was examined. After the administration of a placebo or the selective alpha2-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-noradrenaline system exerts a rather specific effect on human action monitoring.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Brain Mapping
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Evoked Potentials / drug effects*
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic*
  • Neuropsychological Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Norepinephrine / pharmacology*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / drug effects
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Yohimbine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
  • Yohimbine
  • Norepinephrine