Analysis of Physiological Mechanism in Psychopharmacology

Canton, Peter L.

doi:10.1159/000118131

Cited by 22 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 12 publications

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“…Experimenters have designed important controls for some of these nonspecific deficits -for example, ICSS studies often use threshold measures that are rate independent (Kornetsky & Esposito 1979;Leith & Barrett 1980). Consequently, there have been arguments made both for (Willner 1984) and against (Carlton 1984) the validity of these models. This issue is further complicated by the fact that motor retardation is an integral element of depressive symptomatology (Wolff et al 1985).…”

Section: Dopaminergic Involvement In Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Searching for a technology of behavior

1987

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Section: Dopaminergic Involvement In Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Searching for a technology of behavior

1987

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Analysis of behavioral effects of drugs

Witkin¹,

Katz²

1990

Drug Development Research

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Behavioral pharmacology has largely replaced explanations of the behavioral effects of drugs in terms of hypothetical constructs with descriptions of the environmental or behavioral factors that modify drug effects and by characterization of behavioral mechanisms of drug action. The qualitative and quantitative modulation of behavioral effects of drugs by current and past behavioral and environmental variables has been amply demonstrated. However, fewer studies have been directed toward elucidation of behavioral mechanisms of drug action. The concept of behavioral mechanism implies that drugs can alter behavior in a manner functionally equivalent to the manner in which other variables alter behavior. Owing to the complexity of the determinants of behavior, a host of tactics is required for a comprehensive analysis of the behavioral effects of drugs. Detailed understanding of the various interpretations associated with the results of descriptive and mechanistic studies is essential to the development of adequate accounts of the manner in which drugs affect behavior. Studies elucidating the behavioral or environmental factors that influence the behavioral effects of drugs as well as studies of behavioral mechanisms of drug action may aid other disciplines within pharmacology and the neurosciences by ultimately pinpointing specific behavioral substrates of drug action. This information should greatly facilitate further investigations of the link between behavior and physiological processes as well as provide rational bases for drug development.

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Dopamine, schizophrenia, mania, and depression: Toward a unified hypothesis of cortico-striatopallido-thalamic function

1987

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Considerable evidence from preclinical and clinical investigations implicates disturbances of brain dopamine (DA) function in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric and neurologic disorders. We describe a neural model that may help organize theseindependent experimental observations. Cortical regions classically associated with the limbic system interact with infracortical structures, including the nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, and dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus. In our model, overactivity in forebrain DA systems results in the loss of lateral inhibitory interactions in the nucleus accumbens, causing disinhibition of pallidothalamic efferents; this in turn causes rapid changes and a loss of focused corticothalamic activity in cortical regions controlling cognitive and emotional processes. These effects might be manifested clinically by some symptoms of psychoses. Underactivity of forebrain DA results in excess lateral inhibition in the nucleus accumbens, causing tonic inhibition of pallidothalamic efferents; this perpetuates tonic corticothalamic activity and prevents the initiation of new activity in other critical cortical regions. These effects might be manifested clinically by some symptoms of depression. This model parallels existing explanations for the etiology of several movement disorders, and may lead to testable inferences regarding the neural substrates of specific psychopathologies.

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Analysis of Physiological Mechanism in Psychopharmacology

Cited by 22 publications

References 12 publications

Searching for a technology of behavior

Searching for a technology of behavior

Analysis of behavioral effects of drugs

Dopamine, schizophrenia, mania, and depression: Toward a unified hypothesis of cortico-striatopallido-thalamic function

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