Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Standardized Induction and Assessment of Long-term Potentiation-like Cortical Plasticity Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Published on: November 7, 2025
Atomoxetine enhances a short-term model of plasticity in humans
Donald J Foster1, David C Good, Allison Fowlkes
1Department of Neurology, Program in Rehabilitation, Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the role of 2 noradrenergic drugs in modulating use-dependent plasticity in humans.
Design:
Double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled crossover design.
Setting:
A laboratory in a hospital.
Participants:
A convenience sample of 10 healthy subjects.
Intervention:
An established paradigm that measures motor memory as a short-term model of use-dependent plasticity. Subjects attended 3 sessions, separated by at least 1 week to allow drug washout. Subjects received atomoxetine (Strattera), venlafaxine (Effexor), or placebo.
Main Outcome Measure:
Increase in the proportion of movements into the training target zone (TTZ), an indicator of enhanced plasticity.
Results:
Atomoxetine, but not venlafaxine, significantly increased movements into the TTZ.
Conclusions:
These results support a role for norepinephrine in enhancing cortical plasticity and suggest potential benefits in using these drugs for improving motor recovery after stroke.
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