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Dual contributions of noradrenaline to behavioural flexibility and motivation.
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ABSTRACT: Introduction
While several theories have highlighted the importance of the noradrenergic system for behavioral flexibility, a number of recent studies have also shown a role for noradrenaline in motivation, particularly in effort processing. Here, we designed a novel sequential cost/benefit decision task to test the causal influence of noradrenaline on these two functions in rhesus monkeys.Methods
We manipulated noradrenaline using clonidine, an alpha-2 noradrenergic receptor agonist, which reduces central noradrenaline levels and examined how this manipulation influenced performance on the task.Results
Clonidine had two specific and distinct effects: first, it decreased choice variability, without affecting the cost/benefit trade-off; and second, it reduced force production, without modulating the willingness to work.Conclusions
Together, these results support an overarching role for noradrenaline in facing challenging situations in two complementary ways: by modulating behavioral volatility, which would facilitate adaptation depending on the lability of the environment, and by modulating the mobilization of resources to face immediate challenges.
SUBMITTER: Jahn CI
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6182595 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Dual contributions of noradrenaline to behavioural flexibility and motivation.
Psychopharmacology 20180711 9
<h4>Introduction</h4>While several theories have highlighted the importance of the noradrenergic system for behavioral flexibility, a number of recent studies have also shown a role for noradrenaline in motivation, particularly in effort processing. Here, we designed a novel sequential cost/benefit decision task to test the causal influence of noradrenaline on these two functions in rhesus monkeys.<h4>Methods</h4>We manipulated noradrenaline using clonidine, an alpha-2 noradrenergic receptor ago ...[more]