User:Btravers/sandbox

Test post for Psych 336 at the University of Michigan.

For this class, I have chosen to edit the Neuromodulation article. I am not planning to modify the existing text, but rather, I would like to add a section discussing the cholinergic system. I plan to add information about cholinergic signaling and cholinergic effects on cognition.

1. Picciotto, M., Higley, M., & Mineur, Y. (2012). Acetylcholine as a neuromodulator: Cholinergic signaling shapes nervous system function and behavior. Neuron, 76(1), 116-129. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy.lib.umich.edu/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.08.036
2. Hasselmo, M., & Sarter, M. (2011). Modes and Models of Forebrain Cholinergic Neuromodulation of Cognition. Neuropsychopharmacology, 36, 52-73. doi:10.1038/npp.2010.104

The cholinergic system consists of projection neurons from the pedunculopontine nucleus, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, and basal forebrain and interneurons from the striatum and nucleus accumbens. It is not yet clear whether acetylcholine as a neuromodulator acts through volume transmission or classical synaptic transmission, as there is evidence to support both theories. The cholinergic system has been found to be involved in responding to cues related to the reward pathway, enhancing signal detection and sensory attention, regulating homeostasis, mediating the stress response, and encoding the formation of memories.

Acetylcholine pharmacology

• Muscarinic receptors (mAChR) are metabotropic G-protein coupled receptors
• Nicotinic receptors (nAChR) are ionotropic cation channel receptors

The noradrenaline system has been found to be involved in suppressing of the neuroinflammatory response, stimulating neuronal plasticity through LTP, regulating glutamate uptake by astrocytes and LTD, and consolidating memory. Noradrenaline is often steadily released so that it can prepare the supporting glial cells for calibrated responses.