Subthalamic nucleus lesions increase impulsive action and decrease impulsive choice - mediation by enhanced incentive motivation?

Full Abstract

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is traditionally thought of as part of a system involved in motor control but recent evidence suggests that it may also play a role in other psychological processes. Here we examined the effects of STN lesions on two measures of impulsivity and found that STN lesions increased 'impulsive action' (produced behavioral disinhibition), as measured by performance on a differential reinforcement of low rates of responding task, but decreased 'impulsive choice' (impulsive decision making), as measured by a delay discounting task. In addition, amphetamine and food restriction increased 'impulsive action' and decreased 'impulsive choice' to a greater extent in STN-lesioned animals than in sham controls. We speculate that these apparently discrepant effects may be because STN lesions enhance the incentive salience assigned to rewards. These findings suggest that the STN may serve as a novel target for the treatment of psychological disorders characterized by deficits in behavioral control, such as drug addiction and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Author information

Author/s: Uslaner, Jason M (JM); Robinson, Terry E (TE);

Affiliation: Biopsychology and Neuroscience Programs, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, East Hall, 525 E. University Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48019-1109, USA. Jason_Uslaner(-atsign-)merck.com

Grants: R37-DA004294 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: The European journal of neuroscience (Eur J Neurosci), published in France. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Oct; vol 24 (issue 8) : pp 2345-54

Dates: Created 2006/10/31; Completed 2006/12/21; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 17074055, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Amphetamine - pharmacology
Animals
Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology
Choice Behavior - physiology
Conditioning, Operant - physiology
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Food Deprivation - physiology
Impulsive Behavior - psychology
Male

Male
Motivation
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Reinforcement (Psychology)
Reinforcement Schedule
Reward
Subthalamic Nucleus - anatomy & histology; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Central Nervous System Stimulants (0) ; Amphetamine (300-62-9)

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