title: [Roles of alpha-2 adrenoceptor in prefrontal cortical cognitive functions].
abstract: Studies in non-human primates have demonstrated that norepinephrine can improve, through actions at postsynaptical alpha-2A adrenoceptors, cognitive functions of the prefrontal cortex, such as attentional regulation, working memory and response inhibition. Several psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), show prominent syndromes seen in cognitive deficits of the prefrontal cortex. These basic studies help develop novel pharmacotherapies for psychiatric disorders such as ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurobiology, Shanghai Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031.
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Arnsten
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine