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Dopamine Effects Of Stimulant And Non-Stimulant Drugs Used In The Treatment Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Preeti Chalwadi
Dopamine Effects Of Stimulant And Non-Stimulant Drugs Used In The Treatment Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Preeti Chalwadi
Theses and Dissertations
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to be associated with dysfunction of ascending catecholamine neuronal systems, particularly dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE). Dysfunction of these catecholamine neurons innervating the prefrontal cortex is hypothesized to underlie impaired executive functions. Dysfunction of the DA neurons innervating the striatum is additionally hypothesized to underlie deficits in motivation and reinforcement learning. However, mechanisms of action of therapeutic drugs used for treating ADHD have mainly focused on catecholamines in the prefrontal cortex and have not adequately addressed the role played by DA signaling in the striatum. Stimulants such as Adderall® and Ritalin® are chemically …
An Investigation Into The Presynaptic Actions By Which Amphetamine Activates Dopamine Signaling Within Striatal Subregions Of The Rat., Dan P. Covey
Theses and Dissertations
Despite decades of intense research and a consensus view in the field, the work presented herein provides strong evidence that the primary mechanism of amphetamine action should be re-evaluated. Rather than depleting vesicular dopamine stores and promoting non-exocytotic efflux through the dopamine transporter in vivo, recent evidence demonstrates that amphetamine augments phasic dopamine signaling instead. This signaling modality is critical for reinforcement learning and is dependent on intact vesicular stores. The new findings support over-activation of phasic dopamine signaling as a common mechanism in the addiction process.