Work

Dopaminergic control of cognitive flexibility in humans and animals

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Striatal dopamine (DA) is thought to code for learned associations between cues and reinforcers and to mediate approach behavior toward a reward. Less is known about the contribution of DA to cognitive flexibility-the ability to adapt behavior in response to changes in the environment. Altered reward processing and impairments in cognitive flexibility are observed in psychiatric disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Patients with this disorder show a disruption of functioning in the frontostriatal circuit and alterations in DA signaling. In this review we summarize findings from animal and human studies that have investigated the involvement of striatal DA in cognitive flexibility. These findings may provide a better understanding of the role of dopaminergic dysfunction in cognitive inflexibility in psychiatric disorders, such as OCD.

Source: Frontiers in Neuroscience

DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2013.00201

Authors: Marianne Klanker, Matthijs Feenstra, Damiaan Denys

Institutions: Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam

Language: English

Topic: Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801