Latent Toxoplasma gondii infection leads to improved action control.
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been found to manipulate the behavior of its secondary hosts to increase its own dissemination which is commonly believed to be to the detriment of the host (manipulation hypothesis). The manipulation correlates with an up-regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission. In humans, different pathologies have been associated with T. gondii infections but most latently infected humans do not seem to display overt impairments. Since a dopamine plus does not necessarily bear exclusively negative consequences in humans, we investigated potential positive consequences of latent toxoplasmosis (and the presumed boosting of dopaminergic neurotransmission) on human cognition and behavior. For this purpose, we focused on action cascading which has been shown to be modulated by dopamine. Based on behavioral and neurophysiological (EEG) data obtained by means of a stop-change paradigm, we were able to demonstrate that healthy young humans can actually benefit from latent T. gondii infection as regards their performance in this task (as indicated by faster response times and a smaller P3 component). The data shows that a latent infection which is assumed to affect the dopaminergic system can lead to paradoxical improvements of cognitive control processes in humans.
Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, D-01307 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: ann-kathrin.stock@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
Ann-Kathrin
AK
Stock
Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, Robert-Koch-Haus, Virchowstraße 179, D-45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Evelyn.heintschelvh@uk-essen.de.
Evelyn
E
Heintschel von Heinegg
Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, Robert-Koch-Haus, Virchowstraße 179, D-45147 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Hedda-Luise.Koehling@uk-essen.de.
Hedda-Luise
HL
Köhling
Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, D-01307 Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: christian.beste@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
Christian
C
Beste
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Action cascading; Dopamine; EEG; Executive functions; Human; Latent toxoplasmosis; Manipulation hypothesis; Parasite; Stop–change paradigm; Toxoplama gondii