title: Basal Forebrain Cholinergic System and Orexin Neurons: Effects on Attention.
abstract: The basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic system has an important role in attentive functions. The cholinergic system can be activated by different inputs, and in particular, by orexin neurons, whose cell bodies are located within the postero-lateral hypothalamus. Recently the orexin-producing neurons have been proved to promote arousal and attention through their projections to the BF. The aim of this review article is to summarize the evidence showing that the orexin system contributes to attentional processing by an increase in cortical acetylcholine release and in cortical neurons activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Villano
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valenzano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy; Department of Motor, Human and Health Science, University of Rome, "Foro Italico"Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fiorenzo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moscatelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Monda
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Precenzano
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Second University of NaplesNaples, Italy; Neapolitan Brain Group (NBG), Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Second University of NaplesNaples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viggiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chieffi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cibelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcellino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monda
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of NaplesNaples, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of FoggiaFoggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Messina
keywords: acetylcholine; attention; basal forebrain; lateral hypothalamus; orexin