title: The dopamine augmenter L-DOPA does not affect positive mood in healthy human volunteers.
abstract: Dopamine neurotransmission influences approach toward rewards and reward-related cues. The best cited interpretation of this effect proposes that dopamine mediates the pleasure that commonly accompanies reward. This hypothesis has received support in some animal models and a few studies in humans. However, direct assessments of the effect of transiently increasing dopamine neurotransmission have been largely limited to the use of psychostimulant drugs, which elevate brain levels of multiple neurotransmitters in addition to dopamine. In the present study we tested the effect of more selectively elevating dopamine neurotransmission, as produced by administration of the immediate dopamine precursor, L-DOPA (0, 100/25, 200/50 mg, Sinemet), in healthy human volunteers. Neither dose altered positive mood. The results suggest that dopamine neurotransmission does not directly influence positive mood in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liggins
authors.forename: Robert O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Pihl
authors.forename: Chawki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benkelfat
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leyton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006805:Human Experimentation; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine