This review article entitled “Physiological approaches to understanding molecular actions on dorsolateral prefrontal cortical neurons underlying higher cognitive processing”examines the relationship between neurotransmitters and prefrontal cognitive function. The authors of this article are leading the field in such research.

When reviewing the article, we were highly impressed by the focused and detailed experimental design. In the field of modern brain science and experimental psychology, it is very difficult to acquire objective results from a single point of view,or through only one (or two) experiment(s). In the presented article, the authors emphasize an unsurprising, but important fact that scientific investigation requires the integration of multidisciplinary levels of study, including, for example, from molecular bases to behavioral representations. Romantically,instead of just being part of the research methods, we should consider experimental design as an elegant art. The present review article is highly recommended because it a fine example of how to systematically conduct experimental design based on a particular scientific issue.

This highlighted paper also compels a strong appreciation for the central role that dopamine (DA) plays among neurotransmitters; much like Shakespeare′s drama, without Romeo or Juliet, there can be no Montague or Capulet family,no Mercutio, Benvolio, Tybalt or Count Paris… And, In 2000,following confirmation that DA is a neurotransmitter, Swedish scientist Arvid Carlsson was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine.

Dopamine is mainly responsible for information processing of positive emotions such as love and reward, as well as playing a role in negative issues such as addiction. Furthermore, many neurological diseases are related to abnormalities in the DA system. In Parkinson′s disease, for example, DA neurons in the substantia nigra are degenerative, which leads to basal ganglion dysfunction and muscle tension. In infantile chorea disease, DA hyperfunction and acetylcholine hypofunction result in muscle softness and weakness. In addition,schizophrenia is also believed to be caused by overactive DAD2 receptors.

Even in the digestive system, DA and acetylcholine balance is important to maintain normal digestion, with hyperfunction of acetylcholine and DA accelerating gastrointestinal peristalsis and weakening digestive function, respectively. Interestingly,domperidone, a familiar drug, can strengthen digestive function due to its role as a DA receptor antagonist, whereby it inhibits the function of DA to enhance gastrointestinal digestive function indirectly. In addition to acetylcholine, DA also has close relationships with the glutamatergic, gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA) and norepinephrinergic systems, and is a precursor to norepinephrine synthesis in vivo.

In addition to the existing research technology mentioned by the authors in the discussed article, new technologies have been developed in recent years, including optogenetics and Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALEN), a novel gene editing tool. We believe that with classic and modern technology and expanding expertise, Nonhuman primate brain research will continue to make great progress in the future.