Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to testing for purposes of diagnosis and general research in the area of cognitive function, especially with respect to participants with below average abilities to inhibit their actions in response to stimuli. This disclosure also relates to the use of a game scenario to exercise an ability to react to the presentation of a stop-signal by inhibiting the execution of a response to a go-signal presented shortly before. This is known as a Stop-Signal Task. Additional tasks that require inhibitory control such as Differential Reinforcement of Low rates (DRL) or Reversal Learning may be implemented alone or in combination with the Stop-Signal Task in either a testing or imaging implementation or in software used to provide therapeutic exercise of inhibitory control.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to radiolabeled epibatidine analogues, specifically FPH labeled with radioisotopes of fluorine and/or carbon. These radiolabeled epibatidine compounds are used to noninvasively image and quantify nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the living brain for both research studies and the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to radiolabeled epibatidine analogues, specifically FPH labeled with radioisotopes of fluorine and/or carbon. These radiolabeled epibatidine compounds are used to noninvasively image and quantify nicotinic cholinergic receptors in the living brain for both research studies and the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract: Inhibitors of nitric acid synthase can be used to prevent neurotoxicity mediated through glutamate receptors. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors can be used therapeutically in the treatment of vascular stroke and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease.

Abstract: A method of attenuating the symptoms of opioid withdrawal in a human or animal subject comprises administering to the subject an effective opioid withdrawal symptom attenuating amount of an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) for a period of time effective to attenuate such symptoms upon opioid withdrawal. NOS inhibitors useful in the present method include, for example, L-N.sup.G -nitroarginine, esters of L-N.sup.G -nitroarginine, L-N.sup.G -monomethylarginine, L-N.sup.G -benzylarginine, L-N.sup.G -aminoarginine, iminoethylornithine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds can be used alone or in combination, in conjunction with conventional drugs, such as .alpha..sub.2 -adrenoceptor agonists, mixed agonist-antagonist opioids, and NMDA antagonists, to attenuate the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Effective doses of NOS inhibitors range from about 1 .mu.g/kg/day to about 30 mg/kg/day, administered over the course of about 1 hour to about six days, followed by opioid withdrawal.