Dopamine and executive function: Increased spontaneous eye blink rates correlate with better set-shifting and inhibition, but poorer updating

• Spontaneous eye blink rate (EBR) relates to central dopamine system.
• The relationship between EBR and executive function (EF) was explored.
• Three dimensions of EF were included: shifting, inhibition and updating.
• Increased EBR correlated to better shifting and inhibition but poor updating.
• Roles of central dopamine system in shifting and inhibition differ from updating.

The central dopamine system (DA) has a significant role in the executive function (EF). The spontaneous eye blink rate (EBR) is an effective clinical and non-invasive measure, which is strongly related to the activity of the central dopaminergic system. Previous studies show significant relationships between the two main dimensions of EF (i.e., shifting and inhibition) and the central DA system as measured by EBR. However, most of these studies involve only one EF task for shifting or inhibition; whether or not these relationships are replicated by other EF tasks remains unclear. Besides, the relationship between EBR and another important EF dimension—updating—also remains unknown. The present study examined the correlation between EBR and several EF tasks that captured all the three EF dimensions: shifting, inhibition, and updating. A total of 61 healthy participants were subjected to EBR testing and EF tasks. Results showed that EBR had a different relationship with each of the three tested EF dimensions. An increase in EBR levels was related to an increase in accuracy in shifting and inhibition tasks, a decrease in shifting and inhibition cost, and a decrease in accuracy in updating tasks. These results imply that the role of the central DA system in shifting and inhibition differs from its role in updating.