Learning Experience Reverses Catecholaminergic Effects on Adaptive Behavior

Abstract

Background Catecholamines are important for cognitive control and the ability to adapt behavior (e.g., after response errors). A prominent drug that modulates the catecholaminergic system is methylphenidate. On the basis of theoretical consideration, we propose that the effects of methylphenidate on behavioral adaptation depend on prior learning experience. Methods In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study design, we examined the effect of methylphenidate (0.25 mg/kg) on post error behavioral adaptation processes in a group of n = 43 healthy young adults. Behavioral adaptation processes were examined in a working memory, modulated response selection task. The focus of the analysis was on order effects within the crossover study design to evaluate effects of prior learning/task experience. Results The effect of methylphenidate/placebo on post-error behavioral adaptation processes reverses depending on prior task experience. When there was no prior experience with the task, methylphenidate increased post-error slowing and thus intensified behavioral adaptation processes. However, when there was prior task experience, (i.e., when the placebo session was conducted first in the crossover design), methylphenidate even decreased post-error slowing and behavioral adaptation. Effect sizes were large and the power of the observed effects was higher than 95%. Conclusions The data suggest that catecholaminergic effects on cognitive control functions vary as a function of prior learning/task experience. The data establish a close link between learning/task familiarization and catecholaminergic effects for executive functions, which has not yet been studied, to our knowledge, but is of considerable clinical relevance. Theoretical implications are discussed.

Perception-Action Integration Is Modulated by the Catecholaminergic System Depending on Learning Experience

“…The sample consisted of n = 45 healthy participants between 20 and 30 years of age (19 females; mean age 23.6, SD = 2.52). The sample size was comparable to previous studies with equivalent study designs ( Bensmann et al, 2019 ; Mückschel et al, 2020a , 2020b ). A sensitivity analysis was conducted with G*Power ( Faul et al, 2007 ) to determine the detectable effect size.…”

“…Specifically, the processes underlying learning and binding have been demonstrated to be distinct from each other ( Moeller and Frings, 2017a ), and learning experience has been found to modulate binding processes ( Moeller and Frings, 2017b ), for example, with strongly overlearned S-R associations impeding the new integration of stimulus features and responses. Moreover, the effects of MPH on various cognitive control processes have been shown to depend on prior learning or task experience ( Bensmann et al, 2019 ; Mückschel et al, 2020a , 2020b ). The data show that the effects of 0.25 mg/kg immediate-release MPH on the strength of perception-action integration was modulated by prior task experience.…”

“…Participants were given a single dose of immediate-release MPH (0.25 mg/kg body weight). We chose a single dose of 0.25 mg/kg MPH because previous studies by our group consistently revealed interaction effects with prior learning experience in various cognitive functions using these MPH dosages ( Bensmann et al, 2019 ; Mückschel et al, 2020a , 2020b ). As in these studies, experimental testing in the present study started approximately 75 minutes after MPH intake.…”

“…However, there is mounting evidence that the effects of MPH depend on the level of prior experience or familiarity with a given task ( Bensmann et al, 2019 ; Mückschel et al, 2020a , 2020b ). These insights have been gained through the use of cross-over study designs.…”

The Downsides of Cognitive Enhancement

“…The drug is known to increase the stability of mental representations, but, at the same time to worsen the capability to flexibly update such representations ( Fallon and others 2017 ). Notably, these effects strongly depend on prior learning experience ( Mückschel and others 2020a ; Mückschel and others 2020b ) and thus a critical factor modulating the SNR and hence a balance between cognitive persistence and cognitive flexibility. In fact, prior learning can invert the effects of methylphenidate ( Mückschel and others 2020a ; Mückschel and others 2020b ).…”