Impaired working memory is one symptom contributing to compromised executive function in alcohol use disorder (AUD). Dysregulation of cortical dynorphin (DYN) and κ-opioid receptors (KORs) has been implicated in alcohol dependence-induced impairment in executive function. The present experiments test the hypothesis that dysregulated medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) KORs contribute to impaired working memory in alcohol dependence. Alcohol dependence was induced in male Wistar rats via 4 months of intermittent ethanol vapor exposure prior to training/testing in an mPFC-dependent working memory task (delayed nonmatching-to-sample task; DNMST). mPFC KOR function in alcohol-naïve rats was compared with that of alcohol-dependent and nondependent rats using a DYN A-stimulated [35 ]GTPγS coupling assay. A functional role for mPFC KORs in the regulation of working memory was assessed via intra-mPFC infusions of a KOR agonist prior to assessment in the DNMST, and the contribution of mPFC KORs to compromised working memory in dependence was assessed via mPFC infusions of the KOR antagonist norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI). In alcohol-dependent rats, impaired performance in the DNMST confirmed compromised working memory. Furthermore, DYN A-stimulated mPFC KOR function was pathologically increased in alcohol-dependent rats compared with nondependent and alcohol-naïve rats. Additionally, mPFC KOR involvement in working memory was functionally confirmed by intra-mPFC KOR agonist-induced deficits in DNMST performance. Importantly, alcohol dependence-induced impairment in the DNMST was ameliorated by intra-mPFC KOR antagonism. Regulation of working memory by mPFC KORs and alcohol dependence-induced dysregulation of mPFC KOR function identify a novel therapeutic target to treat AUD-related symptoms of working memory impairment.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8829053 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/adb.13138 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Structural brain basis of latent factors of executive functions in childhood.
Dev Cogn Neurosci
December 2024
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, UCL, London WC1H 0AP, UK. Electronic address:
Executive functions can be classified into processes of inhibition, working memory and shifting, which together support flexible and goal-directed behaviour and are crucial for both current and later-life outcomes. A large body of literature has identified distinct brain regions critical to performing each of these functions. These findings are however predicated on a piecemeal and single-task approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSound-symbol learning and the relationship to spelling in first-grade children.
J Exp Child Psychol
January 2025
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 München, Germany.
Early spelling depends on the ability to understand the alphabetic principle and to translate speech sounds into visual symbols (letters). Thus, the ability to associate sound-symbol pairs might be an important predictor of spelling development. Here, we examined the relation between sound-symbol learning (SSL) and early spelling skills.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA shared serial order system for verbal working memory and language production: evidence from aphasia.
Cogn Neuropsychol
January 2025
Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.
Many aspects of human performance require producing sequences of items in serial order. The current study takes a multiple-case approach to investigate whether the system responsible for serial order is shared across cognitive domains, focusing on working memory (WM) and word production. Serial order performance in three individuals with post-stroke language and verbal WM disorders (hereafter persons with aphasia, PWAs) were assessed using recognition and recall tasks for verbal and visuospatial WM, as well as error analyses in spoken and written production tasks to assess whether there was a tendency to produce the correct phonemes/letters in the wrong order.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetacognitive function in young adults is impacted by physical activity, diet, and sleep patterns.
PLoS One
January 2025
Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Our cognitive capacities like working memory and attention are known to systematically vary over time with our physical activity levels, dietary choices, and sleep patterns. However, whether our metacognitive capacities--such as our strategic use and optimization of cognitive resources--show a similar relationship with these key lifestyle factors remains unknown. Here we addressed this question in healthy young adults by examining if physical activity, diet, and sleep patterns were predictive of self-reported metacognitive status.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMultiple constraint network classification reveals functional brain networks distinguishing 0-back and 2-back task.
Can J Exp Psychol
January 2025
Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo.
Working memory is associated with general intelligence and is crucial for performing complex cognitive tasks. Neuroimaging investigations have recognized that working memory is supported by a distribution of activity in regions across the entire brain. Identification of these regions has come primarily from general linear model analyses of statistical parametric maps to reveal brain regions whose activation is linearly related to working memory task conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!