Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication
Published on: February 6, 2019
The dopamine agonist apomorphine differentially affects cognitive performance in alcohol dependent patients and
Arnt F A Schellekens1, Armand W A A van Oosterwijck, Bart Ellenbroek
1Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a.f.a.schellekens@psy.umcn.nl
Background:
Reduced metabolic activity in frontal brain regions, and reduced striatal dopamine receptor densities have been shown in alcohol dependent patients. Little is known on functional changes in the fronto-striatal-thalamic dopaminergic neurocircuitry in these patients. The objective of this study was to assess sensitivity of prefrontal dopamine receptors in alcohol dependent patients.
Experimental Procedures:
Male alcohol dependent patients (N=40) and healthy controls (N=39) performed an AX-continuous performance test before and after administration of the DA agonist apomorphine (0.005 mg/kg).
Results:
At baseline alcohol dependent patients were slower and less accurate compared to healthy controls. After administration of apomorphine, performance improved in alcohol dependent patients and deteriorated in healthy controls.
Conclusions:
Reduced cognitive performance in alcohol dependent patients compared with healthy controls may indicate dopamine dysfunctioning at the prefrontal level. Improvement of cognitive performance in alcohol dependent patients after administration of apomorphine and deterioration in healthy controls provides evidence for an inverted U-shape relation between dopaminergic functioning and cognitive performance.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

