Chemical that makes us stop
The ability to stop ourselves doing inappropriate actions, like blurting out impulsive comments, jumping red lights, or rushing in front of cars, is controlled by the brain chemical noradrenaline, researchers have found. The discovery has important implications for the development of drug treatments for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researchers administered a drug called atomoxetine, which increases a brain chemical called noradrenaline. They used a computerised test to determine how quickly volunteers stopped an activity - which involved pressing keys to follow arrows on the screen - in response to a beep noise. Healthy volunteers were better at stopping or inhibiting their actions with atomoxetine. Atomoxetine was licensed for the treatment of ADHD in 2004.
Advances 2005/06