Methylphenidate Alters Behavioral and Neural Measures of Response Time Variability
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1
The University of Queensland , Queensland Brain Institute and School of Psychology, Australia
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2
The University of Melbourne, School of Behavioural Science, Australia
Increased variability in response time performance on cognitive tasks has emerged as a powerful marker of brain pathology in both neurology and psychiatry. Despite its relevance for understanding brain pathology, the neural and neurochemical mechanisms underpinning performance variability remain poorly understood. We undertook a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design of the influence of methlyphenidate (30mg), atomoxetine (60mg), and citalopram (30mg) on behavioural and neural (fMRI) measures of response time variability, as assessed using a Go/No-go reaction time task, in 24 healthy male participants. Compared with placebo only methylphenidate lead to a reduction in response time variability, suggesting a specific role for dopamine in performance variability. Neural activation related to response time variability also changed robustly under methylphenidate in fronto-striatal regions that are rich in dopaminergic innervation. Improved behavioural and neural indices of response time variability under methylphenidate likely reflects a critical role for dopamine in reducing neural signal to noise ratios and allowing efficient, top-down attentional control.
Conference:
The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes, Toronto, Canada, 22 Mar - 26 Mar, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Neuropharmacology
Citation:
Bellgrove
M,
Hester
R,
Matthews
N,
Nandam
L and
Wagner
J
(2010). Methylphenidate Alters Behavioral and Neural Measures of Response Time Variability.
Conference Abstract:
The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.14.00060
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Received:
28 Jun 2010;
Published Online:
28 Jun 2010.
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Correspondence:
N. Matthews, The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute and School of Psychology, Brisbane, Australia, natasha.leigh.matthews@gmail.com