The effect of attenuating noradrenergic neurotransmission by clonidine on brain activity measures of visuospatial attention. (12th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Logemann, H. N. Alexander; Böcker, Koen B. E.; Deschamps, Peter K. H.; Kemner, Chantal; Kenemans, J. Leon
• Is Part Of: Human psychopharmacology. Volume 29:Number 1(2014:Jan.)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2013-11-12
• Subjects: Psychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Psychotropic drugs -- Periodicals; Psychopharmacology -- Periodicals; Psychotropic Drugs -- pharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.78
• DOI: 10.1002/hup.2367
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-6222

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hup2367-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>In the current study, we investigated the role of noradrenaline in directing (bias) and disengagement of visuospatial attention.</p> </sec> <sec id="hup2367-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We assessed the effect of clonidine on event‐related brain potential (ERP) reflections of bias and disengagement in a double‐blind placebo‐controlled crossover design. An initial dose of 200‐µg clonidine was replaced by 100 µg because of marked side effects. Twenty‐one healthy male participants performed the visual‐spatial cueing task while an electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. The behavioral output is the validity effect (benefit of cueing in terms of reaction time to targets). ERP indices for bias were the cue‐related early directing attention negativity and late directing attention positivity, and the target‐elicited P1 and N1 modulations by validity ('validity‐effect'). The ERP index for disengagement was the target‐elicited 'late positive deflection' modulation by validity. Behavioral analyses were performed on 16 participants, electrophysiological analyses on a subset (<italic>n</italic> = 9).</p> </sec> <sec id="hup2367-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Clonidine attenuated the N1 effect, albeit in a subsample. Neither cue‐elicited ERPs nor the behavioral validity effect were affected. Clonidine‐induced blood pressure reduction was correlated with the reduction of the late positive deflection effect under clonidine.</p> </sec> <sec id="hup2367-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Clonidine attenuated the result of bias in a subsample and may have a modulating effect on disengagement. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>