Dopamine agonists disrupt visual latent inhibition in normal males using a within-subject paradigm

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2003 Sep;169(3-4):314-20. doi: 10.1007/s00213-002-1325-6. Epub 2003 Feb 28.

Abstract

Latent inhibition (LI) is the delayed learning of an association when the conditioned stimulus has previously been experienced out of the context of that association. LI can be measured across species and has been used to understand the neurobiology of schizophrenia, since some reports suggest that schizophrenia patients exhibit LI deficits. One challenge of LI studies in humans has resulted from the fact that LI paradigms have almost uniformly involved between-subject comparisons. We now report a new within-subject paradigm that detected LI in normal adult male subjects after ingestion of a placebo. After amphetamine (20 mg p.o.) or bromocriptine (1.25 mg p.o.), LI was not evident, suggesting that the LI detected by this paradigm is sensitive to disruption by dopamine agonists. The apparent advantages and limitations of this paradigm are discussed with regard to its future use in understanding the neural basis of reported LI deficits in schizophrenia.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphetamine / pharmacology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Association Learning / drug effects
  • Bromocriptine / pharmacology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Conditioning, Classical / drug effects*
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Male
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Reaction Time / drug effects

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Bromocriptine
  • Amphetamine