Psychostimulants as Cognitive Enhancers: The Prefrontal Cortex, Catecholamines, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

• Published in: Biological psychiatry (1969) Vol. 69; no. 12; pp. e101 - e111
• Main Authors: Berridge, Craig W., Devilbiss, David M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15.06.2011
• Subjects: ADHD; Adrenergic Agonists - pharmacology; Adrenergic Agonists - therapeutic use; Animals; Antidepressive Agents - pharmacology; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - physiopathology; Catecholamines - metabolism; Catecholamines - physiology; Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology; Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use; cognition; Cognition - drug effects; Cognition - physiology; dopamine; Humans; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Neurons - physiology; norepinephrine; prefrontal cortex; Prefrontal Cortex - drug effects; Prefrontal Cortex - metabolism; Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology; Psychiatry; stimulants; Synaptic Transmission - drug effects; Synaptic Transmission - physiology; norepinephrine; ADHD; stimulants; cognition; dopamine; prefrontal cortex

Psychostimulants exert behavioral-calming and cognition-enhancing actions in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Contrary to early views, extensive research demonstrates that these actions are not unique to ADHD. Specifically, when administered at low and clinically rel...