Chemistry of the adaptive mind

A failure to adapt to novel or changing environmental demands is a core feature of a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders as well as the normal states of stress and fatigue. We review the neurochemistry of cognitive control, which has been associated primarily with the prefrontal cortex. Many...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences physical, and engineering sciences, 2004-12, Vol.362 (1825), p.2871-2888
Main Authors: Thompson, J. M. T., Cools, Roshan, Robbins, Trevor W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological - drug effects
Behavioral neuroscience
Bio-Engineering and Medicine
Brain Chemistry
Central Nervous System Stimulants - administration & dosage
Central Nervous System Stimulants - chemistry
Cognition - drug effects
Cognition Disorders - drug therapy
Cognition Disorders - physiopathology
Cognitive Enhancing Effects
Dopamine
Dopamine Agonists - administration & dosage
Dopamine Agonists - chemistry
Drug effects
Drugs
Humans
Lesions
Medications
Mental stimulation
Mind
Parkinson disease
Prefrontal Cortex
Prefrontal Cortex - chemistry
Prefrontal Cortex - drug effects
Prefrontal Cortex - physiopathology
Receptors
Side Effects
Working memory
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Summary:A failure to adapt to novel or changing environmental demands is a core feature of a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders as well as the normal states of stress and fatigue. We review the neurochemistry of cognitive control, which has been associated primarily with the prefrontal cortex. Many drugs affect the functioning of the prefrontal cortex, but the direction and extent of drug effects vary across individuals and tasks. Apparently paradoxical effects are often observed, where the same medication causes both cognitive enhancement as well as cognitive side effects. We review neurobiological research that is beginning to elucidate the nature of these contrasting effects and the factors underlying the large variability across individuals and behaviours. The work has considerable implications for the understanding of and treatment development for abnormalities such as Parkinson's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and drug addiction.
ISSN:1364-503X
1471-2962
DOI:10.1098/rsta.2004.1468