Dopaminergic manipulation modulates frequency-specific EEG connectivity patterns: evidence from a single dose drug...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychopharmacology
• Brain Imaging

Background:

• Resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) connectivity and dopamine system dysregulation are common in psychotic disorders.
• The direct impact of dopaminergic drugs on brain connectivity remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how dopaminergic drugs (L-dopa, haloperidol) affect frequency-specific resting-state brain connectivity in healthy participants.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled crossover study with 58 healthy participants.
• Examined effects of L-dopa, haloperidol, and placebo on intrinsic coupling modes (ICMs).
• Calculated source-space connectivity using multivariate interaction measure and orthogonalized power correlation.

Main Results:

• Delta phase ICMs linearly increased; low-beta phase ICMs linearly decreased from L-dopa to haloperidol.
• Gamma phase ICMs decreased with both drugs versus placebo.
• Alpha and low-beta envelope ICMs showed a linear decrease from L-dopa to haloperidol.

Conclusions:

• Gamma band findings support an inverted U-shaped curve for dopaminergic action on neural networks.
• Linear changes in delta, alpha, and low-beta bands may relate to psychotic symptoms.
• Further studies in patients are needed to clarify the link between dopaminergic effects and ICMs.