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van Herk L, Schilder FP, de Weijer AD, Bruinsma B, Geuze E. Heightened SAM- and HPA-axis activity during acute stress impairs decision-making: A systematic review on underlying neuropharmacological mechanisms. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 31:100659. [PMID: 39070283 PMCID: PMC11277380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Individuals might be exposed to intense acute stress while having to make decisions with far-reaching consequences. Acute stress impairs processes required for decision-making by activating different biological stress cascades that in turn affect the brain. By knowing which stress system, brain areas, and receptors are responsible for compromised decision-making processes, we can effectively find potential pharmaceutics that can prevent the deteriorating effects of acute stress. We used a systematic review procedure and found 44 articles providing information on this topic. Decision-making processes could be subdivided into 4 domains (cognitive, motivational, affective, and predictability) and could be referenced to specific brain areas, while mostly being impaired by molecules associated with the sympathetic-adrenal-medullar and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes. Potential drugs to alleviate these effects included α1 and β adrenoceptor antagonists, α2 adrenoceptor agonists, and corticotropin releasing factor receptor1/2 antagonists, while consistent stress-like effects were found with yohimbine, an α2 adrenoceptor antagonist. We suggest possible avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas van Herk
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Frank P.M. Schilder
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Antoin D. de Weijer
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Bastiaan Bruinsma
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elbert Geuze
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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2
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Homann KB. Dynamic Equilibrium: Engaging and Supporting Neurophysiological Intelligence Through Dance/Movement Therapy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DANCE THERAPY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10465-020-09337-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Brehl AK, Kohn N, Schene AH, Fernández G. A mechanistic model for individualised treatment of anxiety disorders based on predictive neural biomarkers. Psychol Med 2020; 50:727-736. [PMID: 32204741 PMCID: PMC7168651 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720000410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Increased amygdala responsiveness is the hallmark of fear and a characteristic across patients with anxiety disorders. The amygdala is embedded in a complex regulatory circuit. Multiple different mechanisms may elevate amygdala responsiveness and lead to the occurrence of an anxiety disorder. While top-down control by the prefrontal cortex (PFC) downregulates amygdala responses, the locus coeruleus (LC) drives up amygdala activation via noradrenergic projections. This indicates that the same fearful phenotype may result from different neural mechanisms. We propose a mechanistic model that defines three different neural biomarkers causing amygdala hyper-responsiveness in patients with anxiety disorders: (a) inherent amygdala hypersensitivity, (b) low prefrontal control and (c) high LC drive. First-line treatment for anxiety disorders is exposure-based cognitive behavioural therapy, which strengthens PFC recruitment during emotion regulation and thus targets low-prefrontal control. A treatment response rate around 50% (Loerinc et al., 2015, Clinical Psychological Reviews, 42, 72-82) might indicate heterogeneity of underlying neurobiological mechanisms among patients, presumably leading to high variation in treatment benefit. Transforming insights from cognitive neuroscience into applicable clinical heuristics to categorise patients based on their underlying biomarker may support individualised treatment selection in psychiatry. We review literature on the three anxiety-related mechanisms and present a mechanistic model that may serve as a rational for pathology-based diagnostic and biomarker-guided treatment selection in psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Kathrin Brehl
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nils Kohn
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Guillen Fernández
- Radboud University, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Avery MC, Krichmar JL. Neuromodulatory Systems and Their Interactions: A Review of Models, Theories, and Experiments. Front Neural Circuits 2017; 11:108. [PMID: 29311844 PMCID: PMC5744617 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuromodulatory systems, including the noradrenergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic systems, track environmental signals, such as risks, rewards, novelty, effort, and social cooperation. These systems provide a foundation for cognitive function in higher organisms; attention, emotion, goal-directed behavior, and decision-making derive from the interaction between the neuromodulatory systems and brain areas, such as the amygdala, frontal cortex, hippocampus, and sensory cortices. Given their strong influence on behavior and cognition, these systems also play a key role in disease states and are the primary target of many current treatment strategies. The fact that these systems interact with each other either directly or indirectly, however, makes it difficult to understand how a failure in one or more systems can lead to a particular symptom or pathology. In this review, we explore experimental evidence, as well as focus on computational and theoretical models of neuromodulation. Better understanding of neuromodulatory systems may lead to the development of novel treatment strategies for a number of brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Avery
- SNL-R, Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey L Krichmar
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.,Department of Computer Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Pellegrini S, Palumbo S, Iofrida C, Melissari E, Rota G, Mariotti V, Anastasio T, Manfrinati A, Rumiati R, Lotto L, Sarlo M, Pietrini P. Genetically-Driven Enhancement of Dopaminergic Transmission Affects Moral Acceptability in Females but Not in Males: A Pilot Study. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:156. [PMID: 28900390 PMCID: PMC5581873 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Moral behavior has been a key topic of debate for philosophy and psychology for a long time. In recent years, thanks to the development of novel methodologies in cognitive sciences, the question of how we make moral choices has expanded to the study of neurobiological correlates that subtend the mental processes involved in moral behavior. For instance, in vivo brain imaging studies have shown that distinct patterns of brain neural activity, associated with emotional response and cognitive processes, are involved in moral judgment. Moreover, while it is well-known that responses to the same moral dilemmas differ across individuals, to what extent this variability may be rooted in genetics still remains to be understood. As dopamine is a key modulator of neural processes underlying executive functions, we questioned whether genetic polymorphisms associated with decision-making and dopaminergic neurotransmission modulation would contribute to the observed variability in moral judgment. To this aim, we genotyped five genetic variants of the dopaminergic pathway [rs1800955 in the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene, DRD4 48 bp variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR), solute carrier family 6 member 3 (SLC6A3) 40 bp VNTR, rs4680 in the catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) gene, and rs1800497 in the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) gene] in 200 subjects, who were requested to answer 56 moral dilemmas. As these variants are all located in genes belonging to the dopaminergic pathway, they were combined in multilocus genetic profiles for the association analysis. While no individual variant showed any significant effects on moral dilemma responses, the multilocus genetic profile analysis revealed a significant gender-specific influence on human moral acceptability. Specifically, those genotype combinations that improve dopaminergic signaling selectively increased moral acceptability in females, by making their responses to moral dilemmas more similar to those provided by males. As females usually give more emotionally-based answers and engage the "emotional brain" more than males, our results, though preliminary and therefore in need of replication in independent samples, suggest that this increase in dopamine availability enhances the cognitive and reduces the emotional components of moral decision-making in females, thus favoring a more rationally-driven decision process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pellegrini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of PisaPisa, Italy
| | - Sara Palumbo
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Care, University of PisaPisa, Italy
| | | | - Erika Melissari
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Care, University of PisaPisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Rota
- Clinical Psychology Branch, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria PisanaPisa, Italy
| | - Veronica Mariotti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of PisaPisa, Italy
| | - Teresa Anastasio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of PisaPisa, Italy
| | - Andrea Manfrinati
- Applied Research Division for Cognitive and Psychological Science, European Institute of OncologyMilan, Italy
| | - Rino Rumiati
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of PadovaPadova, Italy
| | - Lorella Lotto
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of PadovaPadova, Italy
| | - Michela Sarlo
- Department of General Psychology and Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of PadovaPadova, Italy
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Qi Z, Yu GP, Tretter F, Pogarell O, Grace AA, Voit EO. A heuristic model for working memory deficit in schizophrenia. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2016; 1860:2696-705. [PMID: 27177811 PMCID: PMC5018429 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 03/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The life of schizophrenia patients is severely affected by deficits in working memory. In various brain regions, the reciprocal interactions between excitatory glutamatergic neurons and inhibitory GABAergic neurons are crucial. Other neurotransmitters, in particular dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine, modulate the local balance between glutamate and GABA and therefore regulate the function of brain regions. Persistent alterations in the balances between the neurotransmitters can result in working memory deficits. METHODS Here we present a heuristic computational model that accounts for interactions among neurotransmitters across various brain regions. The model is based on the concept of a neurochemical interaction matrix at the biochemical level and combines this matrix with a mobile model representing physiological dynamic balances among neurotransmitter systems associated with working memory. RESULTS The comparison of clinical and simulation results demonstrates that the model output is qualitatively very consistent with the available data. In addition, the model captured how perturbations migrated through different neurotransmitters and brain regions. Results showed that chronic administration of ketamine can cause a variety of imbalances, and application of an antagonist of the D2 receptor in PFC can also induce imbalances but in a very different manner. CONCLUSIONS The heuristic computational model permits a variety of assessments of genetic, biochemical, and pharmacological perturbations and serves as an intuitive tool for explaining clinical and biological observations. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The heuristic model is more intuitive than biophysically detailed models. It can serve as an important tool for interdisciplinary communication and even for psychiatric education of patients and relatives. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "System Genetics" Guest Editor: Dr. Yudong Cai and Dr. Tao Huang.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Qi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Integrative BioSystems Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - Gina P Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Felix Tretter
- Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Anthony A Grace
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 456 Langley Hall, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Eberhard O Voit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; Integrative BioSystems Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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Abstract
Affective disorders such as anxiety, phobia and depression are a leading cause of disabilities worldwide. Monoamine neuromodulators are used to treat most of them, with variable degrees of efficacy. Here, we review and interpret experimental findings about the relation of neuromodulation and emotional feelings, in pursuit of two goals: (a) to improve the conceptualisation of affective/emotional states, and (b) to develop a descriptive model of basic emotional feelings related to the actions of neuromodulators. In this model, we hypothesize that specific neuromodulators are effective for basic emotions. The model can be helpful for mental health professionals to better understand the affective dynamics of persons and the actions of neuromodulators - and respective psychoactive drugs - on this dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fushun Wang
- Professor of Psychology, Director of the Institute of Emotional Psychology, Nanjing University of Traditional Medicine, 138 Xianlin Rd, Qixia district, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China 210023. E-mail:
| | - Alfredo Pereira
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Education, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus of Rubião Jr, 18618-970 - Botucatu - São Paulo - Brasil
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8
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Maran T, Sachse P, Furtner M. From specificity to sensitivity: affective states modulate visual working memory for emotional expressive faces. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1297. [PMID: 26379609 PMCID: PMC4550750 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous findings suggest that visual working memory (VWM) preferentially remembers angry looking faces. However, the meaning of facial actions is construed in relation to context. To date, there are no studies investigating the role of perceiver-based context when processing emotional cues in VWM. To explore the influence of affective context on VWM for faces, we conducted two experiments using both a VWM task for emotionally expressive faces and a mood induction procedure. Affective context was manipulated by unpleasant (Experiment 1) and pleasant (Experiment 2) IAPS pictures in order to induce an affect high in motivational intensity (defensive or appetitive, respectively) compared to a low arousal control condition. Results indicated specifically increased sensitivity of VWM for angry looking faces in the neutral condition. Enhanced VWM for angry faces was prevented by inducing affects of high motivational intensity. In both experiments, affective states led to a switch from specific enhancement of angry expressions in VWM to an equally sensitive representation of all emotional expressions. Our findings demonstrate that emotional expressions are of different behavioral relevance for the receiver depending on the affective context, supporting a functional organization of VWM along with flexible resource allocation. In VWM, stimulus processing adjusts to situational requirements and transitions from a specifically prioritizing default mode in predictable environments to a sensitive, hypervigilant mode in exposure to emotional events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Maran
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Pierre Sachse
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marco Furtner
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
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9
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Morland C, Lauritzen KH, Puchades M, Holm-Hansen S, Andersson K, Gjedde A, Attramadal H, Storm-Mathisen J, Bergersen LH. The lactate receptor, G-protein-coupled receptor 81/hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1: Expression and action in brain. J Neurosci Res 2015; 93:1045-55. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Revised: 03/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilie Morland
- The Brain and Muscle Energy Group; Department of Anatomy; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
- The Brain and Muscle Energy Group; Department of Oral Biology; University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
| | - Knut Husø Lauritzen
- The Brain and Muscle Energy Group; Department of Anatomy; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
| | - Maja Puchades
- The Brain and Muscle Energy Group; Department of Anatomy; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
| | - Signe Holm-Hansen
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Krister Andersson
- The Brain and Muscle Energy Group; Department of Anatomy; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
| | - Albert Gjedde
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Håvard Attramadal
- Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital; Oslo Norway
- Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
| | - Jon Storm-Mathisen
- The Brain and Muscle Energy Group; Department of Anatomy; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
| | - Linda Hildegard Bergersen
- The Brain and Muscle Energy Group; Department of Anatomy; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
- Center for Healthy Aging; Faculty of Health Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
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10
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Avery MC, Krichmar JL. Improper activation of D1 and D2 receptors leads to excess noise in prefrontal cortex. Front Comput Neurosci 2015; 9:31. [PMID: 25814948 PMCID: PMC4356073 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2015.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The dopaminergic system has been shown to control the amount of noise in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and likely plays an important role in working memory and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. We developed a model that takes into account the known receptor distributions of D1 and D2 receptors, the changes these receptors have on neuron response properties, as well as identified circuitry involved in working memory. Our model suggests that D1 receptor under-stimulation in supragranular layers gates internal noise into the PFC leading to cognitive symptoms as has been proposed in attention disorders, while D2 over-stimulation gates noise into the PFC by over-activation of cortico-striatal projecting neurons in infragranular layers. We apply this model in the context of a memory-guided saccade paradigm and show deficits similar to those observed in schizophrenic patients. We also show set-shifting impairments similar to those observed in rodents with D1 and D2 receptor manipulations. We discuss how the introduction of noise through changes in D1 and D2 receptor activation may account for many of the symptoms of schizophrenia depending on where this dysfunction occurs in the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Avery
- Systems Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Krichmar
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, CA, USA ; Department of Computer Sciences, University of California Irvine, CA, USA
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11
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Bergersen LH. Lactate transport and signaling in the brain: potential therapeutic targets and roles in body-brain interaction. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2015; 35:176-85. [PMID: 25425080 PMCID: PMC4426752 DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2014.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Lactate acts as a 'buffer' between glycolysis and oxidative metabolism. In addition to being exchanged as a fuel by the monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) between cells and tissues with different glycolytic and oxidative rates, lactate may be a 'volume transmitter' of brain signals. According to some, lactate is a preferred fuel for brain metabolism. Immediately after brain activation, the rate of glycolysis exceeds oxidation, leading to net production of lactate. At physical rest, there is a net efflux of lactate from the brain into the blood stream. But when blood lactate levels rise, such as in physical exercise, there is net influx of lactate from blood to brain, where the lactate is used for energy production and myelin formation. Lactate binds to the lactate receptor GPR81 aka hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor (HCAR1) on brain cells and cerebral blood vessels, and regulates the levels of cAMP. The localization and function of HCAR1 and the three MCTs (MCT1, MCT2, and MCT4) expressed in brain constitute the focus of this review. They are possible targets for new therapeutic drugs and interventions. The author proposes that lactate actions in the brain through MCTs and the lactate receptor underlie part of the favorable effects on the brain resulting from physical exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Hildegard Bergersen
- 1] The Brain and Muscle Energy Group, SN-Lab, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Healthy Brain Ageing Centre, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway [2] Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [3] Center for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark [4] The Brain and Muscle Energy Group, Department of Oral Biology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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12
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Puig MV, Rose J, Schmidt R, Freund N. Dopamine modulation of learning and memory in the prefrontal cortex: insights from studies in primates, rodents, and birds. Front Neural Circuits 2014; 8:93. [PMID: 25140130 PMCID: PMC4122189 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2014.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review, we provide a brief overview over the current knowledge about the role of dopamine transmission in the prefrontal cortex during learning and memory. We discuss work in humans, monkeys, rats, and birds in order to provide a basis for comparison across species that might help identify crucial features and constraints of the dopaminergic system in executive function. Computational models of dopamine function are introduced to provide a framework for such a comparison. We also provide a brief evolutionary perspective showing that the dopaminergic system is highly preserved across mammals. Even birds, following a largely independent evolution of higher cognitive abilities, have evolved a comparable dopaminergic system. Finally, we discuss the unique advantages and challenges of using different animal models for advancing our understanding of dopamine function in the healthy and diseased brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Victoria Puig
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jonas Rose
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA
- Animal Physiology, Institute of Neurobiology, University of TübingenTübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Schmidt
- BrainLinks-BrainTools, Department of Biology, Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of FreiburgFreiburg, Germany
| | - Nadja Freund
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of TübingenTübingen, Germany
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13
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Clark KL, Noudoost B. The role of prefrontal catecholamines in attention and working memory. Front Neural Circuits 2014; 8:33. [PMID: 24782714 PMCID: PMC3986539 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2014.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
While much progress has been made in identifying the brain regions and neurochemical systems involved in the cognitive processes disrupted in mental illnesses, to date, the level of detail at which neurobiologists can describe the chain of events giving rise to cognitive functions is very rudimentary. Much of the intense interest in understanding cognitive functions is motivated by the hope that it might be possible to understand these complex functions at the level of neurons and neural circuits. Here, we review the current state of the literature regarding how modulations in catecholamine levels within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) alter the neuronal and behavioral correlates of cognitive functions, particularly attention and working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L Clark
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Behrad Noudoost
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University Bozeman, MT, USA
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14
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Asher DE, Craig AB, Zaldivar A, Brewer AA, Krichmar JL. A dynamic, embodied paradigm to investigate the role of serotonin in decision-making. Front Integr Neurosci 2013; 7:78. [PMID: 24319413 PMCID: PMC3836187 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2013.00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator that has been attributed to cost assessment and harm aversion. In this review, we look at the role 5-HT plays in making decisions when subjects are faced with potential harmful or costly outcomes. We review approaches for examining the serotonergic system in decision-making. We introduce our group’s paradigm used to investigate how 5-HT affects decision-making. In particular, our paradigm combines techniques from computational neuroscience, socioeconomic game theory, human–robot interaction, and Bayesian statistics. We will highlight key findings from our previous studies utilizing this paradigm, which helped expand our understanding of 5-HT’s effect on decision-making in relation to cost assessment. Lastly, we propose a cyclic multidisciplinary approach that may aid in addressing the complexity of exploring 5-HT and decision-making by iteratively updating our assumptions and models of the serotonergic system through exhaustive experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrik E Asher
- Cognitive Anteater Robotics Lab, Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, CA, USA
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