Central beta-adrenergic modulation of cognitive flexibility.

Full Abstract

Situational stressors and anxiety impede performance on creativity tests requiring cognitive flexibility. Preliminary research revealed better performance on a task requiring cognitive flexibility, the anagram task, after propranolol (beta-adrenergic antagonist) than after ephedrine (beta-adrenergic agonist). However, propranolol and ephedrine have both peripheral and central beta-adrenergic effects. In order to determine whether noradrenergic modulation of cognitive flexibility is a centrally or peripherally mediated phenomenon, we compared the effects of propranolol (peripheral and central beta-blocker), nadolol (peripheral beta-blocker), and placebo on anagram task performance. Solution latency scores for each subject were compared across the drug conditions. Anagram solution latency scores after propranolol were significantly lower than after nadolol. This suggests a centrally mediated modulatory influence of the noradrenergic system on cognitive flexibility.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Beversdorf, David Q (DQ); White, Dawn M (DM); Chever, Daquesha C (DC); Hughes, John D (JD); Bornstein, Robert A (RA);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuroreport (Neuroreport), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Dec; vol 13 (issue 18) : pp 2505-7

Dates: Created 2002/12/24; Completed 2003/04/04; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12499857, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists - administration & dosage
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - administration & dosage
Adult
Cognition - drug effects; physiology
Ephedrine - administration & dosage
Female
Humans

Humans
Male
Nadolol - administration & dosage
Norepinephrine - physiology
Problem Solving - drug effects
Propranolol - administration & dosage
Receptors, Adrenergic, beta - metabolism

Associated Chemicals: Adrenergic beta-Agonists (0) ; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (0) ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta (0) ; Ephedrine (299-42-3) ; Nadolol (42200-33-9) ; Norepinephrine (51-41-2) ; Propranolol (525-66-6)

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.