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Stress, Arousal, and Disease. | ||
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The regulation of arousal is an essential component of normal cognition and emotion. Arousal and related processes are dramatically impacted during stress. Interestingly, a variety of psychiatric disorders involve a dysregulation of stress- and/or state-dependent cognitive and affective processes. These include schizophrenia, depression, anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, as well as sleep and arousal disorders, such as narcolepsy and insomnia. |
Throughout the past century psychologists, physiologists and neuroscientists have attempted to better understand the neural systems that regulate arousal and permit us to contend with challenging, stressful environments. It is believed that this information will provide insight into the causes and treatments of a variety of cognitive and affective disorders. | |
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The Neurobiology of Stress and Arousal. | ||
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Several neural systems have been identified that participate in the regulation of stress-related and arousal-related processes. These include the catecholamine neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine, as well as serotonin, acetylcholine, and histamine. In addition, a variety of peptide neurotransmitters, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone/factor (CRH/CRF) and the hypocretins/orexins have been implicated in stress- and arousal-related processes. Interestingly, many of these neurotransmitters are the target of drugs used in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (dopamine); |
depression (norepinephrine, serotonin); ADHD (norepinephrine, dopamine); and narcolepsy (norepinephrine, dopamine, hypocretin). Amphetamine-like stimulants, which increase dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmission, are commonly used in the treatment of both ADHD (e.g., Ritalin) and narcolepsy, suggesting a prominent role of these neurotransmitters in the treatment of these disorders. | |
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The Berridge Laboratory. | ||
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Our laboratory is interested in understanding the role(s) certain neurotransmitters play in the regulation of sleep and waking, as well as their role(s) in state-dependent cognitive and affective processes. Currently, we are examining the actions of norepinephrine, dopamine, histamine and hypocretin in waking and stress. As part of this work, we are studying the neural mechanisms through which low-dose amphetamine-like stimulants (e.g. amphetamine, methylphenidate/Ritalin) exert arousal-enhancing actions and modulate state-dependent processes, including the processing of sensory information. |
We believe that this research will 1) provide a better understanding of the neural bases of behavior; 2) provide a better understanding of the neural bases of certain cognitive and affective disorders; 3) contribute to the development of novel pharmacological treatments for these disorders. | |
Department of Psychology
1202
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University of Wisconsin at Madison
Madison, WI
53706-1696
© 2001 by the Board of Regents of the
University of Wisconsin System.
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