Citation

Soutschek A, Gvozdanovic G, Kozak R, Duvvuri S, de Martinis N, Harel B, Gray DL, Fehr E, Jetter A, Tobler PN. Biol. Psychiatry 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Zurich Center for Neuroeconomics, Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.09.002

PMID

31668477

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Activation of D₁ receptors has been related to successful goal-directed behavior, but it remains unclear whether D₁ receptor activation causally tips the balance of weighing costs and benefits in humans. Here, we tested the impact of pharmacologically stimulated D₁ receptors on sensitivity to risk, delay, and effort costs in economic choice and investigated whether D₁ receptor stimulation would bias preferences toward options with increased costs in a cost-specific manner.

METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 1 study, 120 healthy young volunteers received either placebo or 1 of 3 doses (6 mg, 15 mg, or 30 mg) of a novel, selective D₁ agonist (PF-06412562). After drug administration, participants performed decision tasks measuring their preferences for risky, delayed, and effortful outcomes.

RESULTS: Higher doses of the D₁ agonist increased the willingness to exert physical effort for reward as well as reduced the preference for risky outcomes. We observed no effects on preferences for delayed rewards.

CONCLUSIONS: The current results provide evidence that D₁ receptor stimulation causally affects core aspects of cost-benefit decision making in humans.

Copyright © 2019 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

D(1) receptors; Decision making; Dopamine; Effort discounting; Risk; Temporal discounting