12月12日的《科學(xué)》雜志報(bào)道說,，研究人員長期以來都懷疑在腦干中的一個(gè)幫助協(xié)調(diào)對(duì)壓力和驚恐反應(yīng)的特別的神經(jīng)核（稱作藍(lán)斑 -去甲腎上腺素或LC-NE）同時(shí)也參與認(rèn)知控制和精神集中的過程?，F(xiàn)在,，研究人員稱他們已經(jīng)有了科學(xué)上的證據(jù)。
美國加州大學(xué)Michael Minzenberg及同事給予人類受試者一種叫做modafinil（又作：莫達(dá)非尼）的可以增進(jìn)認(rèn)知能力的藥物,，并同時(shí)對(duì)這些人的腦部活動(dòng)用 fMRI進(jìn)行監(jiān)控,。實(shí)驗(yàn)結(jié)果顯示LC-NE系統(tǒng)可直接影響額葉前部皮層的功能，因此也能影響認(rèn)知的控制能力,。在這一研究中,，modafinil的作用與LC-NE中的緊張性活動(dòng)的降低以及與任務(wù)相關(guān)的及額葉前部皮層的活動(dòng)增進(jìn)有關(guān)，從而提示了一種相似類型藥物的作用機(jī)制,。Modafinil目前是日益受歡迎的治療嚴(yán)重抑郁癥,、注意力缺陷/多動(dòng)癥和精神分裂癥的藥物。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Science,，Vol. 322. no. 5908, pp. 1700 - 1702,，Michael J. Minzenberg，Cameron S. Carter
Modafinil Shifts Human Locus Coeruleus to Low-Tonic, High-Phasic Activity During Functional MRI
Michael J. Minzenberg,* Andrew J. Watrous, Jong H. Yoon, Stefan Ursu, Cameron S. Carter
Models of cognitive control posit a key modulatory role for the pontine locus coeruleus–norepinephrine (LC-NE) system. In nonhuman primates, phasic LC-NE activity confers adaptive adjustments in cortical gain in task-relevant brain networks, and in performance, on a trial-by-trial basis. This model has remained untested in humans. We used the pharmacological agent modafinil to promote low-tonic/high-phasic LC-NE activity in healthy humans performing a cognitive control task during event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Modafanil administration was associated with decreased task-independent, tonic LC activity, increased task-related LC and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity, and enhanced LC-PFC functional connectivity. These results confirm in humans the role of the LC-NE system in PFC function and cognitive control and suggest a mechanism for therapeutic action of procognitive noradrenergic agents.
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA.
