Re: Parkinsonism--an analog? (More)

[Guest guest]

DOPAMINE: CHALLENGES WITH A FUNCTIONAL APPROACH

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE DA PROJECTIONS: ANALYTICAL APPROACH

I now remember where I was reading about this. There was a ton of material

on the Wellbutrin website. Of course, they have a stake in saying their

dopamine- boosting drug will help with everything. The central role of

dopamine in Parkinson's is well established (that's why it is treated with

l-dopa). The question is whether the more generalized effects of

dopamine-impairment--separate from, but more or less analogous to

Parkinson's--ring a bell with us. Here are a couple of suggestive quotes. I

didn't try to preserve the points they were making, only the kind of things

they discuss as effects of low dopamine.

http://www.acnp.org/G4/GN401000025/CH025.html

" Data from the experiments also showed significant alteration in attentional

processes [sustained focus? brain fog?], thus raising the question of direct

involvement of DA [dopamine] in regulating attention. ...DA has thus to be

considered as a key... to anticipatory processes necessary for preparing

voluntary action consequent upon intention. "

" ...hypokinetic-hypoattentional deficits are correlated with a decrease in

dopamine in the anteromedian frontal cortex and to a lesser extent in the

nucleus accumbens, whereas no correlation was observed with... serotonin and

noradrenaline levels in the forebrain. "

" The disruption of instrumental conditioning after blockade of central DA

neurotransmission with drugs or lesions has been explained as an inability

to initiate movements rather than as a disruption of learning mechanisms per

se. "