The role of the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline system in temporal attention and uncertainty processing

This dissertation explores the involvement of the locus-coeruleus-noradrenaline (LC-NE) system in both temporal attention and uncertainty processing. To this end, a number of cognitive tasks are used (Stroop, passive viewing, attentional blink, accessory stimulus, auditory oddball) and a number of techniques are utilized (electroencephalogram [EEG], pupillometry, phsychopharmacology).Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek European Research CouncilUBL - phd migration 201

Assessing new methods to optimally detect episodes of non-metabolic heart rate variability reduction as an indicator of psychological stress in everyday life: a thorough evaluation of six methods

Action Contro

Beta receptor-mediated modulation of the oddball P3 but not err-related ERP components in humans

FSW - Self-regulation models for health behavior and psychopathology - ou

Aging and the neuroeconomics of decision-making: a review

Neuroeconomics refers to a combination of paradigms derived from neuroscience, psychology, and economics for the study of decision making and is an area that has received considerable scientific attention in the recent literature. Using realistic laboratory tasks, researchers seek to study the neurocognitive processes underlying economic decision making and outcome-based decision learning, as well as individual differences in these processes and the social and affective factors that modulate them. To this point, one question has remained largely unanswered: What happens to decision-making processes and their neural substrates during aging? After all, aging is associated with neurocognitive change, which may affect outcome-based decision making. In our study, we use the subjective expected utility model—a well-established decision-making model in economics—as a descriptive framework. After a short survey of the brain areas and neurotransmitter systems associated with outcome-based decision making—and of the effects of aging thereon—we review a number of decision-making studies. Their general data pattern indicates that the decision-making process is changed by age: The elderly perform less efficiently than younger participants, as demonstrated, for instance, by the smaller total rewards that the elderly acquire in lab tasks. These findings are accounted for in terms of age-related deficiencies in the probability and value parameters of the subjective expected utility model. Finally, we discuss some implications and suggestions for future research

Assessing new methods to optimally detect episodes of non-metabolic heart rate variability reduction as an indicator of psychological stress in everyday life: A thorough evaluation of six methods

Health and self-regulatio

New methods to optimally detect episodes of non-metabolic heart rate variability reduction as an indicator of psychological stress in everyday life

FSW - Self-regulation models for health behavior and psychopathology - ou

Noradrenergic and cholinergic modulation of late ERP responses to deviant stimuli

Stress-related psychiatric disorders across the life spa

Effects of clonidine and scopolamine on multiple target detection in rapid serial visual presentation

Rationale: The specific role of neuromodulator systems in regulating rapid fluctuations of attention is still poorly understood. Objectives: In this study, we examined the effects of clonidine and scopolamine on multiple target detection in a rapid serial visual presentation task to assess the role of the central noradrenergic and cholinergic systems in temporal attention. Method: Eighteen healthy volunteers took part in a crossover double-dummy study in which they received clonidine (150/175 μg), scopolamine (1.2 mg), and placebo by mouth in counterbalanced order. A dual-target attentional blink task was administered at 120 min after scopolamine intake and 180 min after clonidine intake. The electroencephalogram was measured during task performance. Results: Clonidine and scopolamine both impaired detection of the first target (T1). For clonidine, this impairment was accompanied by decreased amplitudes of the P2 and P3 components of the event-related potential. The drugs did not impair second-target (T2) detection, except if T2 was presented immediately after T1. The attentional blink for T2 was not affected, in line with a previous study that found no effect of clonidine on the attentional blink. Conclusions: These and other results suggest that clonidine and scopolamine may impair temporal attention through a decrease in tonic alertness and that this decrease in alertness can be temporarily compensated by a phasic alerting response to a salient stimulus. The comparable behavioral effects of clonidine and scopolamine are consistent with animal studies indicating close interactions between the noradrenergic and cholinergic neuromodulator systems

Noradrenergic and Cholinergic Effects on Speed and Sensitivity Measures of Phasic Alerting

Stress-related psychiatric disorders across the life spa