RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Noradrenergic Stimulation Enhances Human Action Monitoring
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 4370
OP 4374
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4437-04.2005
VO 25
IS 17
A1 Riba, Jordi
A1 Rodríguez-Fornells, Antoni
A1 Morte, Adelaida
A1 Münte, Thomas F.
A1 Barbanoj, Manel J.
YR 2005
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/25/17/4370.abstract
AB 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 α2-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.