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Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Assessment of Stress Effects on Cognitive Flexibility using an Operant Strategy Shifting Paradigm
Published on: May 4, 2020
Role of Stress-Related Dopamine Transmission in Building and Maintaining a Protective Cognitive Reserve
Simona Cabib1,2, Claudio Latagliata1, Cristina Orsini2
1Department of Experimental Neurosciences, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Roma, Italy.
Abstract:
This short review presents the hypothesis that stress-dependent dopamine (DA) transmission contributes to developing and maintaining the brain network supporting a cognitive reserve. Research has shown that people with a greater cognitive reserve are better able to avoid symptoms of degenerative brain changes. The paper will review evidence that: (1) successful adaptation to stressors involves development and stabilization of effective but flexible coping strategies; (2) this process requires dynamic reorganization of functional networks in the adult brain; (3) DA transmission is amongst the principal mediators of this process; (4) age- and disease-dependent cognitive impairment is associated with dysfunctional connectivity both between and within these same networks as well as with reduced DA transmission.
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