Atomoxetine Enhances a Short-Term Model of Plasticity in Humans
Abstract
Foster DJ, Good DC, Fowlkes A, Sawaki L. Atomoxetine enhances a short-term model of plasticity in humans.
Objective
To evaluate the role of 2 noradrenergic drugs in modulating use-dependent plasticity in humans.
Design
Double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled crossover design.
Setting
A laboratory in a hospital.
Participants
A convenience sample of 10 healthy subjects.
Intervention
An established paradigm that measures motor memory as a short-term model of use-dependent plasticity. Subjects attended 3 sessions, separated by at least 1 week to allow drug washout. Subjects received atomoxetine (Strattera), venlafaxine (Effexor), or placebo.
Main Outcome Measure
Increase in the proportion of movements into the training target zone (TTZ), an indicator of enhanced plasticity.
Results
Atomoxetine, but not venlafaxine, significantly increased movements into the TTZ.
Conclusions
These results support a role for norepinephrine in enhancing cortical plasticity and suggest potential benefits in using these drugs for improving motor recovery after stroke.
Department of Neurology, Program in Rehabilitation, Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC.
Reprint requests to Lumy Sawaki, MD, PhD, Dept of Neurology, Program in Rehabilitation, Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157
Supported by Wake Forest University (intramural grant no. BG 03-644). Drugs used in this study were provided by the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center pharmacy.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
ABSTRACT