Pharmacological Modulation of Plasticity

Cortical plasticity plays an important role in learning. Understanding of the mechanisms of plasticity would facilitate strategies to improve learning. CNS active drugs can modify plasticity and learning. Here we tested the effects of neuromodulators [dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin, acetylcholine ACH)] and, in a different series of experiments, the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AED) on associative long-term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity and motor learning in eight healthy subjects. LTP was induced by paired associative stimulation (Stefan et al. Brain 2000; 123: 572). Motor learning was inv…