The Roles of Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptors in Working Memory Function

Dopamine has been implicated in the modulation of working memory via its interactions with circuits located in the prefrontal cortex of rodents and non-human primates. However, the role that pathways triggered by dopamine receptor subtypes play in affecting processes of working memory remains unclear. In humans, the evidence for dopaminergic modulation of working memory is controversial and the neurological substrates for dopamine’s modulatory effects are not fully understood. This paper will review the major animal and human studies that implicate synaptic dopaminergic transmission in working memory function and will outline a new framework to clarify the specific contribution of dopamine D2 receptors to the performance of this cognitive function. Specifically, it is proposed that activation of hippocampal dopamine D2 receptors by chemical agonists could result in the enhancement of spatial working memory.