title: Basal Forebrain Cholinergic System and Memory.
abstract: Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons constitute a way station for many ascending and descending pathways. These cholinergic neurons have a role in eliciting cortical activation and arousal. It is well established that they are mainly involved in cognitive processes requiring increased levels of arousal, attentive states and/or cortical activation with desynchronized activity in the EEG. These cholinergic neurons are modulated by several afferents of different neurotransmitter systems. Of particular importance within the cortical targets of basal forebrain neurons is the hippocampal cortex. The septohippocampal pathway is a bidirectional pathway constituting the main septal efferent system, which is widely known to be implicated in every memory process investigated. The present work aims to review the main neurotransmitter systems involved in modulating cognitive processes related to learning and memory through modulation of basal forebrain neurons.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina UBA, CONICET. Paraguay, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay, 7th Floor (C1121ABG), 2155, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de la Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UBA. Junín, 5th Floor (C1113AAD), 956, Buenos Aires, Argentina. mboccia@ffyb.uba.ar.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boccia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066187:Basal Forebrain / Q000502:physiology*; D059329:Cholinergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Acetylcholine; Consolidation; GABA; Glutamate; Hypocretin; Learning; Modulation; Noradrenaline; Orexin; Oxytocin; Substance P; Vasopressin