Atomoxetine facilitates attentional set shifting in adolescent rats.

摘要: Adolescent rats show immaturities in executive function and are less able than adult to learn reinforcement reversals shift attentional set. These two forms of rely on the functional integrity orbitofrontal prelimbic cortices respectively. Drugs used treat attention deficit disorder, such as atomoxetine, that increase cortical catecholamine levels improve functions humans, non-human primates with prefrontal lesions. Cortical noradrenergic systems some last mature rats. Moreover, norepinephrine transporters (NET) higher juvenile adults. The underdeveloped system number NET hypothesized underlie found adolescents. We assessed male Long-Evans using an intra-dimensional/extra-dimensional set shifting task. administered blocker, atomoxetine (0.0, 0.1, 0.9 mg/kg/ml; i.p.), prior test a reversal. lowest dose drug facilitated but had no effect reversal learning. data demonstrate blockade allows adolescent more easily perform shifting.