Tonic Dopaminergic Stimulation Impairs Associative Learning in Healthy Subjects

• Published in: Neuropsychopharmacology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 31; no. 11; pp. 2552 - 2564
• Main Authors: Breitenstein, Caterina, Korsukewitz, Catharina, Flöel, Agnes, Kretzschmar, Timo, Diederich, Kai, Knecht, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.11.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Affect - drug effects; Analysis of Variance; Association Learning - drug effects; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Dopamine Agonists - adverse effects; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Learning Disorders - chemically induced; Learning Disorders - physiopathology; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; Pergolide - adverse effects; Prospective Studies; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Reaction Time - drug effects; Time Factors; Verbal Learning - drug effects

Endogenous dopamine plays a central role in salience coding during associative learning. Administration of the dopamine precursor levodopa enhances learning in healthy subjects and stroke patients. Because levodopa increases both phasic and tonic dopaminergic neurotransmission, the critical mechanis...