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Review
. 2017 Aug;142 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):111-121.
doi: 10.1111/jnc.14052.

Cholinergic modulation of the hippocampal region and memory function

Juhee Haam  1 , Jerrel L Yakel  1
Affiliations
Review

Cholinergic modulation of the hippocampal region and memory function

Juhee Haam et al. J Neurochem. 2017 Aug.

Abstract

Acetylcholine (ACh) plays an important role in memory function and has been implicated in aging-related dementia, in which the impairment of hippocampus-dependent learning strongly manifests. Cholinergic neurons densely innervate the hippocampus, mediating the formation of episodic as well as semantic memory. Here, we will review recent findings on acetylcholine's modulation of memory function, with a particular focus on hippocampus-dependent learning, and the circuits involved. In addition, we will discuss the complexity of ACh actions in memory function to better understand the physiological role of ACh in memory. This is an article for the special issue XVth International Symposium on Cholinergic Mechanisms.

Keywords: ACh; AD; cholinergic; hippocampus; learning; memory; muscarinic; nicotinic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing financial interests

Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1. Complexity of acetylcholine (ACh) modulation on cognitive function
(a) ACh’s modulation of cognitive function is selective to hippocampus-dependent memory, specifically affecting spatial but not procedural memory. (b) The method of cholinergic modulation can result in different outcomes. For example, optogenetic manipulation of cholinergic neurons is more physiological but is not as selective as antagonism of ACh receptors (AChRs). (c) ACh has differential effects on memory encoding and consolidation, favoring the pathways involved in encoding. (d) ACh can exert different responses depending on which receptor subtypes ACh activates, each of which has distinct desensitization characteristics. (e) ACh enhancement of memory function depends on the baseline cholinergic activity, having a larger improvement in subjects with low ACh tone.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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