Yohimbine increases impulsivity through activation of cAMP response element binding in the orbitofrontal cortex.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stress can increase impulsivity and has a negative impact on psychiatric outcome. Norepinephrine is heavily implicated in responses to stress, and the alpha(2) antagonist yohimbine is used clinically to study this aspect of the stress response. Yohimbine induces mild anxiety and increases impulsivity in healthy volunteers but has more detrimental effects in some psychiatric populations, triggering mania in bipolar patients and drug craving in substance-dependent individuals. Understanding the mechanism by which yohimbine affects brain function could provide insight into the heightened reaction to stress in these patients.

Methods

Yohimbine's effects were assessed in rats using the five-choice serial reaction time test of attention and impulse control. We then exam

SUBMITTER: Sun H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2891518 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature