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Amnesia produced by pre-training infusion of serotonin into the substantia nigra
Miguel A Díaz del Guante1, Mauricio Rivas, Roberto A Prado-Alcalá
1Institute of Neurobiology, National University of México, Carretera Querétaro-SLP, Km 15, Querétaro, Qro. 76230, Mexico.
Abstract:
Interference with dopaminergic, GABAergic or cholinergic activity of the substantia nigra is sufficient to disrupt cognitive functions. In spite of the known interactions between these neurotransmitters and serotonin, there is a notable scarcity of data germane to the participation of nigral serotonin in learning and memory. It was important, therefore, to investigate the possible involvement of serotonin in cognition. Pre-training injections of serotonin into the nigra of rats produced strong amnesia of an aversively-motivated task (inhibitory avoidance) compared to similar injections into the cerebral cortex and zona incerta. The present findings support the hypothesis that nigral serotonergic activity is involved in memory functions.
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Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
Amnesia
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...

