Working memory capacity predicts dopamine synthesis capacity in the human striatum.
Evidence from psychopharmacological research has revealed that dopamine receptor agents have opposite effects on cognitive function depending on baseline levels of working memory capacity. These contrasting effects have been interpreted to reflect differential baseline levels of dopamine. Here we demonstrate for the first time that working memory capacity as measured by listening span predicts dopamine synthesis capacity in the striatum, indicating that subjects with low working memory capacity have low DA synthesis capacity in the striatum, whereas subjects with high working memory capacity have high DA synthesis capacity in the striatum.
Cools
Roshan
R
Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3190, USA. roshan.cools@fcdonders.ru.nl
Gibbs
Sasha E
SE
Miyakawa
Asako
A
Jagust
William
W
D'Esposito
Mark
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology
D004298:Dopamine