Pharmacological and non-pharmacological modulation of striatal dopamine release: a meta-analysis of [11C]raclopride PET studies
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: C]raclopride PET studies (n = 1640), we compared the magnitude and regional distribution of dopamine release induced by amphetamine, methylphenidate, ketamine, alcohol, and cognitive challenges with and without reward. Amphetamine induced approximately four-fold greater dopamine release than cognitive challenges (10.9 vs. 2.7%, p < 0.001), and approximately twice that of alcohol (4.8%, p < 0.001), with effects comparable to methylphenidate (11.5%) and slightly greater than ketamine (9.8%). Psychostimulant-induced increase in synaptic dopamine was greater in putamen and ventral striatum than in caudate, whereas alcohol preferentially engaged ventral striatum. Dopamine release did not differ between rewarded and non-rewarded cognitive tasks in the ventral striatum (p > 0.14) or overall striatum (p > 0.10). Methylphenidate-induced increases in synaptic dopamine appeared to attenuate with advancing age, whereas cognitive challenges were associated with greater dopamine release in older individuals. These findings demonstrate that individual pharmacological and cognitive interventions differ markedly in both magnitude and regional pattern of dopamine release. They also suggest that [¹¹C]raclopride PET may have limited sensitivity for distinguishing reward-related from non-reward-related dopamine release. These findings have implications for the design and interpretation of future neuroimaging studies of dopaminergic function in health and disease.
Source: Molecular Psychiatry
Institutions: University of Turku, Turku University Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,490
Funders: Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, Suomen Lääketieteen Säätiö, Finska Läkaresällskapet, Academy of Finland, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö, Turun Yliopisto, Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö, Orionin Tutkimussäätiö, Suomen Aivosäätiö, Maire Taposen Säätiö, Suomalainen Lääkäriseura Duodecim, Instrumentariumin Tiedesäätiö, Turun Yliopistollisen Keskussairaalan Koulutus- ja Tutkimussäätiö, Turun Yliopistollinen Keskussairaala, Parkinsonfonden, Varsinais-Suomen Rahasto
OpenAlex ID: W7208718535