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- Title
Noradrenergic neuromodulation of human attention for emotional and neutral stimuli.
- Authors
Martino, Benedetto De; Strange, Bryan A.; Dolan, Raymond J.
- Abstract
Norepinephrine (NE) has a regulatory role in human attention. To examine its role in emotional modulation of attention, we used an attentional blink (AB) paradigm, in the context of psychopharmacological manipulation, where targets were either emotional or neutral items. We report behavioural evidence that β-adrenergic blockade with propranolol impairs attention independent of target valence. Furthermore, this effect is centrally mediated as administration of the peripheral β-adrenergic antagonist nadolol did not impair attention. By contrast, increasing NE tone, using the selective NE reuptake inhibitor reboxetine, improves detection of emotional stimuli. In line with theoretical and animal models, these findings provide human behavioural evidence that the adrenergic system has a modulatory influence on selective attention that in some instances depends on item valence.
- Subjects
NORADRENALINE; LOCUS coeruleus; PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL research; ADRENERGIC beta blockers; PROPRANOLOL; NADOLOL
- Publication
Psychopharmacology, 2008, Vol 197, Issue 1, p127
- ISSN
0033-3158
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00213-007-1015-5