Cited by 685Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

The roles of dopamine and noradrenaline in the pathophysiology and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

del Campo, Natalia, Chamberlain, Samuel R., Sahakian, Barbara J., Robbins, Trevor W.·2011·Biological Psychiatry

Abstract

Through neuromodulatory influences over fronto-striato-cerebellar circuits, dopamine and noradrenaline play important roles in high-level executive functions often reported to be impaired in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Medications used in the treatment of ADHD (including methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine and atomoxetine) act to increase brain catecholamine levels. However, the precise prefrontal cortical and subcortical mechanisms by which these agents exert their therapeutic effects remain to be fully specified. Herein, we review and discuss the present state of knowledge regarding the roles of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline in the regulation of corticostriatal circuits, with a focus on the molecular neuroimaging literature (both in ADHD patients and in healthy subjects). Recent positron emission tomography evidence has highlighted the utility of quantifying DA markers, at baseline or following drug administration, in striatal subregions governed by differential cortical connectivity. This approach opens the possibility of characterizing the neurobiological underpinnings of ADHD (and associated cognitive dysfunction) and its treatment by targeting specific neural circuits. It is anticipated that the application of refined and novel positron emission tomography methodology will help to disentangle the overlapping and dissociable contributions of DA and noradrenaline in the prefrontal cortex, thereby aiding our understanding of ADHD and facilitating new treatments.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.02.036

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Authors
del Campo, N., Chamberlain, S. R., Sahakian, B. J., & Robbins, T. W.
Affiliations
University of Cambridge (GB)
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-06
Volume
69
Issue
12
Pages
e145-e157
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2025431637
Cited by
685
References
129
Citations by year
2026: 61 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 44 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 43
FWCI
5.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Gates Cambridge Trust
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, dopamine, norepinephrine, catecholamines, executive function, corticostriatal circuits, prefrontal cortex, striatum, positron emission tomography, methylphenidate, d-amphetamine, atomoxetine, neuromodulation, ADHD treatment
MeSH terms
Central Nervous System Stimulants, Animals, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Corpus Striatum, Dopamine, Humans, Neural Pathways, Norepinephrine, Prefrontal Cortex, Positron-Emission Tomography

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