Through neuromodulatory influences over fronto-striato-cerebellar circuits, dopamine
and noradrenaline play important roles in high-level executive functions often reported
to be impaired in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Medications used
in the treatment of ADHD (including methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine and atomoxetine)
act to increase brain catecholamine levels. However, the precise prefrontal cortical
and subcortical mechanisms by which these agents exert their therapeutic effects remain
to be fully specified. Herein, we review and discuss the present state of knowledge
regarding the roles of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline in the regulation of corticostriatal
circuits, with a focus on the molecular neuroimaging literature (both in ADHD patients
and in healthy subjects). Recent positron emission tomography evidence has highlighted
the utility of quantifying DA markers, at baseline or following drug administration,
in striatal subregions governed by differential cortical connectivity. This approach
opens the possibility of characterizing the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD
(and associated cognitive dysfunction) and its treatment by targeting specific neural
circuits. It is anticipated that the application of refined and novel positron emission
tomography methodology will help to disentangle the overlapping and dissociable contributions
of DA and noradrenaline in the prefrontal cortex, thereby aiding our understanding
of ADHD and facilitating new treatments.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 09, 2011
Accepted:
February 15,
2011
Received in revised form:
January 16,
2011
Received:
June 11,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
