Cited by 715Neural dynamics and brain functionNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

The role of locus coeruleus in the regulation of cognitive performance

Usher, Marius, Cohen, Jonathan D., Servan-Schreiber, David, Rajkowski, Janusz, Aston-Jones, Gary·1999·Science

Abstract

Noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) neurons were recorded in monkeys performing a visual discrimination task, and a computational model was developed addressing the role of the LC brain system in cognitive performance. Changes in spontaneous and stimulus-induced patterns of LC activity correlated closely with fluctuations in behavioral performance. The model explains these fluctuations in terms of changes in electrotonic coupling among LC neurons and predicts improved performance during epochs of high coupling and synchronized LC firing. Cross correlations of simultaneously recorded LC neurons confirmed this prediction, indicating that electrotonic coupling in LC may play an important role in attentional modulation and the regulation of goal-directed versus exploratory behaviors.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.283.5401.549

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Authors
Usher, M., Cohen, J. D., Servan-Schreiber, D., Rajkowski, J., & Aston-Jones, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • M. Usher, Department of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK. J. D. Cohen, Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA and Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. D. Servan-Schreiber, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. J. Rajkowski and G. Aston-Jones, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, VAMC (151), University and Woodland Avenues, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Venue
Science
Published
1999-01-22
Volume
283
Issue
5401
Pages
549-554
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2057594895
Cited by
715
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 34
FWCI
12.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Rutgers University Community Repository (Rutgers University) (submittedVersion)
  • Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01mh055309-05)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 45156, MH-47566, MH-55309, P50MH045156, P01MH047566)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
locus coeruleus, noradrenergic neurons, cognitive performance, visual discrimination task, electrical coupling, neuronal synchronization, attentional modulation, goal-directed behavior, exploratory behavior, computational model, spontaneous neuronal activity
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Cognition, Discrimination, Psychological, Electrophysiology, Locus Coeruleus, Macaca fascicularis, Models, Neurological, Neurons, Norepinephrine, Photic Stimulation, Psychomotor Performance

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