EEG reveals that dextroamphetamine improves cognitive control through multiple processes in healthy participants
Savita G Bhakta1, James F Cavanagh2, Jo A Talledo1
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA.
Summary
Dextroamphetamine (d-amp) improved cognitive control task performance and altered electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers. Findings suggest d-amp sharpens cognitive control, boosting performance under high demand while neglecting it under low demand.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Translatability challenges hinder pro-cognitive drug development.
- Cross-species cognitive tasks with biomarkers are crucial for future trials.
- Identifying reliable neurophysiological biomarkers is essential for assessing drug efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify neurophysiological biomarkers sensitive to dextroamphetamine's (d-amp) pro-cognitive effects.
- To investigate d-amp's impact on cognitive control using a difficulty-modulated task and electroencephalography (EEG).
- To explore how task difficulty modulates d-amp's effects on behavior and EEG.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, within-subject study.
- Healthy adults (n=23) received d-amp (10 or 20 mg) or placebo across three sessions.
- Simultaneous EEG recorded during a difficulty-modulated cross-species cognitive control task.
Main Results:
- D-amp improved performance (d-prime, reaction time) and increased frontal P3a amplitude.
- Task difficulty modulated EEG effects: d-amp suppressed frontal theta power during easy trials.
- D-amp-induced P3b amplitude changes during hard trials correlated with improved hit rates.
Conclusions:
- D-amp exhibits a gain-sharpening effect on cognitive control.
- Under low demand, d-amp diminished control by suppressing theta; under high demand, it enhanced control via P3b.
- These neurophysiological measures can serve as biomarkers for d-amp sensitivity in cognitive deficits.
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