A computational approach to prefrontal cortex, cognitive control, and schizophrenia: recent developments and current challenges

Neuropsychological evidence of a relatively selective profile of temporal dysfunction in drug-free MDMA ("ecstasy") polydrug users

“…Importantly, the mean duration of amphetamine consumption in these two studies was approximately 13 years, which is considerably higher than the 4-year ecstasy use in the current sample. In line with this, computational theories have also claimed that the disruption of inhibitory mechanisms may occur at a later stage in the neurodegenerative process, compared with mnemonic functioning (Cohen et al 1998). This may explain why ecstasy users in the present study began to show signs of difficulties in relation to acquiring a reversal rule, but demonstrated no problems relative to any other form of inhibitory measure (including go/no go).…”

The neurobiology of social phobia: From pharmacotherapy to brain imaging

“…However, social status in monkeys is reflected in dopamine D 2 striatal differences [92]. In addition, the ascending dopamine system has been found to play an important role in the control of approach motivation and behavior in animals and humans [93][94][95][96][97][98]. Such results may make sense both of the findings of dopamine abnormalities in social phobia and of the importance ascribed to avoidance in SP.…”

The effects of skill focused instructions on walking performance depend on movement constraints in Parkinson's disease

“…The prefrontal cortex may be responsible for encoding task specific rules and goals as well as variables that dictate the context or movement constraints placed on motor performance [19,20]. Thus, a top-down prioritization of movement characteristics likely occurs in a way that integrates the observed demands of the task as well as any constraints on the movement performance that may be present in the situation [17].…”