Noradrenergic modulation of risk/reward decision making

摘要: Catecholamine transmission modulates numerous cognitive and reward-related processes that can subserve more complex functions such as cost/benefit decision making. Dopamine has been shown to play an integral role in decisions involving reward uncertainty, yet there is a paucity of research investigating the contributions noradrenaline (NA) these functions. The present study was designed elucidate contribution NA risk/reward making rats, assessed with probabilistic discounting task. We examined effects reducing noradrenergic α2 agonist clonidine (10–100 μg/kg), increasing activity at α2A receptor sites guanfacine (0.1–1 mg/kg), antagonist yohimbine (1–3 mg/kg), transporter (NET) inhibitor atomoxetine (0.3–3 mg/kg) on discounting. Rats chose between small/certain larger/risky reward, wherein probability obtaining larger either decreased (100–12.5 %) or increased (12.5–100 %) over session. In well-trained reduced risky choice by decreasing sensitivity, whereas did not affect behavior. Yohimbine impaired adjustments biases changed within session altering negative feedback sensitivity. subset rats displayed prominent rewards, lowest dose preference for large/risky when this option had greater long-term utility. These data highlight important previously uncharacterized mediating different aspects