Atomoxetine enhances a short-term model of plasticity in humans.

ABSTRACT

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.