Effects of the NMDA antagonist ketamine on task-switching performance: evidence for Specific impairments of executive control

Stoet, G. and Snyder, L.H. (2006) Effects of the NMDA antagonist ketamine on task-switching performance: evidence for Specific impairments of executive control. Neuropsychopharmacology, 31(8), pp. 1675-1681. (doi: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300930)

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Abstract

In humans, the effects of subanesthetic doses of ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, substantially impair executive control functions. Here, we consider whether ketamine exposure can provide an animal model for the effects of ketamine on executive control. Two monkeys (Macaca mulatta) performed a cued task-switching paradigm. We studied their behavior before and after a range of ketamine doses. We found that ketamine slowed overall performance and decreased overall accuracy, strongly impaired the capacity to ignore task-irrelevant information and, to a lesser degree, decreased accuracy when a task switch was required. This pattern of results is very similar to that found in studies of schizophrenic patients performing task-switching paradigms or the Stroop task. We conclude that ketamine in monkeys provides a good animal model for exploring the relationship between the glutamate system, executive control, and the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Stoet, Dr Gijsbert
Authors: Stoet, G., and Snyder, L.H.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Interdisciplinary Science Education Technologies and Learning
Journal Name:Neuropsychopharmacology
ISSN:0893-133X
ISSN (Online):1873-7862
Published Online:05 October 2005

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