Background The process underlying the integration of perception and action is a focal topic in neuroscientific research and cognitive frameworks such as the theory of event coding have been developed to explain the mechanisms of perception-action integration. The neurobiological underpinnings are poorly understood. While it has been suggested that the catecholaminergic system may play a role, there are opposing predictions regarding the effects of catecholamines on perception-action integration. Methods Methylphenidate (MPH) is a compound commonly used to modulate the catecholaminergic system. In a double-blind, randomized crossover study design, we examined the effect of MPH (0.25 mg/kg) on perception-action integration using an established “event file coding” paradigm in a group of n = 45 healthy young adults. Results The data reveal that, compared with the placebo, MPH attenuates binding effects based on the established associations between stimuli and responses, provided participants are already familiar with the task. However, without prior task experience, MPH did not modulate performance compared with the placebo. Conclusions Catecholamines and learning experience interactively modulate perception-action integration, especially when perception-action associations have to be reconfigured. The data suggest there is a gain control–based mechanism underlying the interactive effects of learning/task experience and catecholaminergic activity during perception-action integration.

中文翻译：

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儿茶酚胺能系统根据学习经验调节感知-动作整合

背景 感知和行动整合的过程是神经科学研究的焦点话题，并且已经开发了诸如事件编码理论等认知框架来解释感知-行动整合的机制。神经生物学基础知之甚少。虽然有人提出儿茶酚胺能系统可能发挥作用，但关于儿茶酚胺对感知-动作整合的影响存在相反的预测。方法 哌醋甲酯 (MPH) 是一种常用于调节儿茶酚胺能系统的化合物。在一项双盲、随机交叉研究设计中，我们在一组 n = 45 名健康年轻人中使用已建立的“事件文件编码”范式检查了 MPH（0.25 mg/kg）对感知-动作整合的影响。结果 数据显示，与安慰剂相比，如果参与者已经熟悉该任务，MPH 会根据刺激和反应之间已建立的关联来减弱结合效应。然而，在没有先前的任务经验的情况下，与安慰剂相比，MPH 并没有调节性能。结论 儿茶酚胺和学习经验交互调节感知-动作整合，特别是当感知-动作关联必须重新配置时。数据表明，在感知-动作整合过程中，学习/任务经验和儿茶酚胺能活动的交互作用背后存在一种基于增益控制的机制。在没有先前的任务经验的情况下，与安慰剂相比，MPH 并没有调节性能。结论 儿茶酚胺和学习经验交互调节感知-动作整合，特别是当感知-动作关联必须重新配置时。数据表明，在感知-动作整合过程中，学习/任务经验和儿茶酚胺能活动的交互作用背后存在一种基于增益控制的机制。在没有先前的任务经验的情况下，与安慰剂相比，MPH 并没有调节性能。结论 儿茶酚胺和学习经验交互调节感知-动作整合，特别是当感知-动作关联必须重新配置时。数据表明，在感知-动作整合过程中，学习/任务经验和儿茶酚胺能活动的交互作用背后存在一种基于增益控制的机制。