title: Cognitive enhancers: focus on modulatory signaling influencing memory consolidation.
abstract: Biological research has unraveled many of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the formation of long-lasting memory, providing new opportunities for the development of cognitive-enhancing drugs. Studies of drug enhancement of cognition have benefited from the use of pharmacological treatments given after learning, allowing the investigation of mechanisms regulating the consolidation phase of memory. Modulatory systems influencing consolidation processes include stress hormones and several neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems. Here, we review some of the findings on memory enhancement by drug administration in animal models, and discuss their implications for the development of cognitive enhancers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. rafael.roesler@pq.cnpq.br
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roesler
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schröder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide