Lack of dopaminergic modulation of cognitive flexibility

• Published in: Cognitive and behavioral neurology Vol. 20; no. 4; p. 225
• Main Authors: Smyth, Shawn F, Beversdorf, David Q
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Association Learning - drug effects; Association Learning - physiology; Brain - drug effects; Brain - physiology; Bromocriptine - pharmacology; Cognition - drug effects; Cognition - physiology; Creativity; Dopamine - physiology; Dopamine Agonists - pharmacology; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Recall - drug effects; Mental Recall - physiology; Problem Solving - drug effects; Problem Solving - physiology; Reaction Time - drug effects; Reaction Time - physiology; Semantics
• ISSN: 1543-3641
• DOI: 10.1097/WNN.0b013e31815e6244

To evaluate performance on a cognitive flexibility task after administration of a dopaminergic agonist. L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, which is converted into dopamine and norepinephrine, results in a restriction of the semantic network in priming experiments. Recent evidence suggests that flexibility of access to semantic networks in problem solving is mediated by the noradrenergic system. We wished to determine if dopaminergic agonists also affect this type of cognitive flexibility. Eighty-four subjects were tested twice on an anagram task, once 1 hour after bromocriptine (dopamine agonist) and once 1 hour after placebo administration. No difference was detected between placebo and bromocriptine on anagram performance. Therefore, modulation of this type of cognitive flexibility does not seem to be mediated by the dopaminergic system. This suggests that the noradrenergic modulation of cognitive flexibility previously reported does not seem to extend to the dopaminergic system among catecholamines.