PSYC 311 Chapter Notes - Chapter 17.7: Methylphenidate, Extracellular Fluid, Impulsivity

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 311
• Professor: Michalakis Petrides

Document Summary

We know that the appearance of an appetitive stimulus can reinforce behaviour that immediately preceded it: reinforcing stimuli are most effective if they immediately follow and behaviour, the longer the delay, the less effective the reinforcement. How would this delay of reinforcement gradient produce the symptoms of adhd. The symptoms of adhd resemble those produced by damage to the prefrontal cortex- distractibility, forgetfulness, impulsivity, poor planning, and hyperactivity. Damage or abnormalities in these neural circuits give rise to the symptoms of. We also know that dopamine antagonists reduce the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, which is supposed to be caused by overactivity of dopaminergic transmission: similarly, the fact that methylphenidate, a dopamine agonist, alleviates the symptoms of. Adhd has suggested that it is caused by underactivity of dopaminergic transmission. This is supported by the fact that low levels of dopamine receptor stimulation in the pfc results in impaired functioning of this region.