title: Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Circuits and Signaling in Cognition and Cognitive Decline.
abstract: Recent work continues to place cholinergic circuits at center stage for normal executive and mnemonic functioning and provides compelling evidence that the loss of cholinergic signaling and cognitive decline are inextricably linked. This Review focuses on the last few years of studies on the mechanisms by which cholinergic signaling contributes to circuit activity related to cognition. We attempt to identify areas of controversy, as well as consensus, on what is and is not yet known about how cholinergic signaling in the CNS contributes to normal cognitive processes. In addition, we delineate the findings from recent work on the extent to which dysfunction of cholinergic circuits contributes to cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative disorders.
authors.affiliation: Medical Scientist Training Program, Program in Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. Electronic address: elizabeth.ballinger@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ballinger
authors.affiliation: Program in Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ananth
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences, CNS Disorders Center, Center for Molecular Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Talmage
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Neurosciences Institute, CNS Disorders Center, Center for Molecular Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. Electronic address: lorna.role@stonybrook.edu.
authors.forename: Lorna W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Role
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D066187:Basal Forebrain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D059329:Cholinergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000109:Acetylcholine