NOvelty-related motivation of anticipation and exploration by dopamine (NOMAD): implications for healthy aging.
Studies in humans and animals show that dopaminergic neuromodulation originating from the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area (SN/VTA) of the midbrain enhances hippocampal synaptic plasticity for novel events and has a motivationally energizing effect on actions through striatal mechanisms. In this review, we discuss how these mechanisms of dopaminergic neuromodulation connect to the behavioural and functional consequences that age-related structural degeneration of the SN/VTA exerts on declarative memory. We propose a framework called 'NOvelty-related Motivation of Anticipation and exploration by Dopamine' (NOMAD) which captures existing links between novelty, dopamine, long-term memory, plasticity, energization and their relation to aging. We propose that maximizing the use of this mechanism by maintaining mobility and exploration of novel environments could be a potential mechanism to slow age-related decline of memory.
Düzel
Emrah
E
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Psychology, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK. e.duzel@ucl.ac.uk
Bunzeck
Nico
N
Guitart-Masip
Marc
M
Düzel
Sandra
S
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*
D004298:Dopamine