Catecholaminergic modulation of indices of cognitive flexibility: A pharmaco-tDCS study.
Dopamine
Flexibility
Learning
Transcranial direct current stimulation
Tyrosine
tDCS
Journal
Brain stimulation
ISSN: 1876-4754
Titre abrégé: Brain Stimul
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101465726
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
27
04
2018
revised:
24
11
2018
accepted:
05
12
2018
pubmed:
16
12
2018
medline:
25
6
2019
entrez:
16
12
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Dopaminergic activity within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) has been implicated in the control of cognitive flexibility. Much of the evidence for a causative relationship between cognitive flexibility and dopamine has come from animal studies, whilst human data have largely been correlational. The current study examines whether changes in dopamine levels through tyrosine administration and suppression of dlPFC activity via cathodal tDCS could be causally related to cognitive flexibility as measured by task switching and reversal learning. Using a crossover, double-blind, sham controlled, counterbalanced, randomized trial, we tested the effects of combining cathodal tDCS with tyrosine, a catecholaminergic precursor, with appropriate drug and tDCS placebo controls, on two measures of cognitive flexibility: probabilistic reversal learning, and task switching. While none of the manipulations had an effect on task switching, there was a significant main effect of cathodal tDCS and tyrosine on reversal learning. Reversal learning performance was significantly worsened by cathodal tDCS compared with sham tDCS, whilst tyrosine significantly improved performance compared with placebo. However, there was no significant tDCS × drugs interaction. Interestingly, and as predicted by our model, the combined administration of tyrosine with cathodal tDCS resulted in performance that was equivalent to the control condition (i.e. tDCS sham + placebo). Our results suggest a causative role for dopamine signalling and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity in regulating indices of cognitive flexibility in humans.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Dopaminergic activity within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) has been implicated in the control of cognitive flexibility. Much of the evidence for a causative relationship between cognitive flexibility and dopamine has come from animal studies, whilst human data have largely been correlational.
OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS
The current study examines whether changes in dopamine levels through tyrosine administration and suppression of dlPFC activity via cathodal tDCS could be causally related to cognitive flexibility as measured by task switching and reversal learning.
METHODS
Using a crossover, double-blind, sham controlled, counterbalanced, randomized trial, we tested the effects of combining cathodal tDCS with tyrosine, a catecholaminergic precursor, with appropriate drug and tDCS placebo controls, on two measures of cognitive flexibility: probabilistic reversal learning, and task switching.
RESULTS
While none of the manipulations had an effect on task switching, there was a significant main effect of cathodal tDCS and tyrosine on reversal learning. Reversal learning performance was significantly worsened by cathodal tDCS compared with sham tDCS, whilst tyrosine significantly improved performance compared with placebo. However, there was no significant tDCS × drugs interaction. Interestingly, and as predicted by our model, the combined administration of tyrosine with cathodal tDCS resulted in performance that was equivalent to the control condition (i.e. tDCS sham + placebo).
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a causative role for dopamine signalling and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity in regulating indices of cognitive flexibility in humans.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30552060
pii: S1935-861X(18)30419-4
doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.12.001
pmc: PMC7116420
mid: EMS104580
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Tyrosine
42HK56048U
Dopamine
VTD58H1Z2X
Types de publication
Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
290-295Subventions
Organisme : Wellcome Trust
ID : 102584
Pays : United Kingdom
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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