title: Effect of d-amphetamine on post-error slowing in healthy volunteers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-error slowing has long been considered a sign of healthy error detection and an important component of cognitive function. However, the neuropharmacological processes underlying post-error slowing are poorly understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effect of the dopamine agonist d-amphetamine on post-error slowing and secondarily, the potential mediator of drug-induced euphoria and potential moderators of personality and baseline task performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy male and female participants (N = 110) completed four study sessions, at which d-amphetamine (placebo 5, 10, 20 mg) was administered under double-blind, counter-balanced conditions. At each session, participants completed subjective drug effect assessments and a working memory task (N-back) to measure post-error slowing. They completed the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) during screening.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amphetamine (20 mg) reduced post-error slowing, consistent with a dampened behavioral reactivity to errors. This was not related to drug-induced euphoria. Although higher scores on MPQ constraint were related to less post-error slowing under placebo conditions, neither personality nor baseline cognitive performance moderated the effects of amphetamine on post-error slowing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding that amphetamine reduced post-error slowing supports the idea that dopamine plays a role in error stimulus processing. The finding is discussed in relation to an existing literature on the mechanisms and function of behavioral and electrophysiological indices of error sensitivity.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave, MC 3077, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors: Margaret C
authors: MC
authors: Wardle
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Yang
authors: Harriet
authors: H
authors: de Wit
mesh_terms: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine