Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists01:30

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

813
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
813
Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT)01:15

Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT)

1.2K
Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer (INEPT) is an advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique specifically designed to detect and enhance the signals of low-abundance nuclei, such as carbon-13 and nitrogen-15, in small molecules. The fundamental principle behind INEPT is the transfer of polarization from a more abundant and highly polarizable nucleus, typically hydrogen-1, to the low-abundance nucleus of interest. This process effectively boosts the NMR signal of the...
1.2K
Long-term Potentiation01:25

Long-term Potentiation

3.8K
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when...
3.8K
Long-term Potentiation01:35

Long-term Potentiation

59.4K
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
59.4K
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory01:23

Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory

2.9K
Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
 Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
2.9K
Neuroplasticity01:01

Neuroplasticity

2.4K
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
2.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Antidepressant effect of psychedelic compounds and mechanisms underlying the G protein-coupled receptors activation psychedelics: Antidepressant action and GPCR signaling.

European journal of pharmacology·2026
Same author

Monoclonal antibodies against nitrated nerve growth factor reveal an oxidation-dependent pathogenic hallmark in ALS.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Peripheral facial palsy in pediatrics: Clinical characteristics and recovery at one month of follow-up.

Archivos argentinos de pediatria·2026
Same author

A stereotactic injection method to establish a clinically relevant germinal matrix hemorrhage murine model.

Journal of neuroscience methods·2026
Same author

Functional, radiological and survival outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: 24-month results from the BERTHA prospective cohort.

BMJ open respiratory research·2026
Same author

Sex Differences on Social and Anxiety-Related Responses in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice.

Molecular neurobiology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
07:13

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Published on: November 29, 2024

1.7K

Neopterin acts as an endogenous cognitive enhancer.

Karina Ghisoni1, Aderbal S Aguiar1, Paulo Alexandre de Oliveira2

  • 1Laboratório de Bioenergética e Estresse Oxidativo - LABOX, Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|February 27, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Neopterin, a molecule found in inflammatory disorders, enhances memory acquisition in rodents. This study reveals neopterin

Keywords:
Learning and memoryNeopterinNeuroinflammation

More Related Videos

A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats
07:04

A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats

Published on: August 19, 2018

11.1K
Using Optogenetics to Reverse Neuroplasticity and Inhibit Cocaine Seeking in Rats
09:43

Using Optogenetics to Reverse Neuroplasticity and Inhibit Cocaine Seeking in Rats

Published on: October 5, 2021

3.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
07:13

Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide

Published on: November 29, 2024

1.7K
A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats
07:04

A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats

Published on: August 19, 2018

11.1K
Using Optogenetics to Reverse Neuroplasticity and Inhibit Cocaine Seeking in Rats
09:43

Using Optogenetics to Reverse Neuroplasticity and Inhibit Cocaine Seeking in Rats

Published on: October 5, 2021

3.1K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Neopterin levels are elevated in inflammatory conditions.
  • Its role in cellular stress suggests potential neuroprotective effects.
  • The impact of neopterin on cognitive functions was previously undefined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of neopterin on motor, emotional, and memory functions.
  • To explore neopterin's potential as a cognitive enhancer.

Main Methods:

  • Intracerebroventricular injections of neopterin in mice and rats.
  • Assessment of memory using inhibitory avoidance and fear conditioning tasks.
  • Evaluation of motor and anxiety behaviors in open field and elevated plus-maze tests.
  • Investigation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged interleukin-10 knockout (IL-10(-/-)) mice.

Main Results:

  • Neopterin consistently facilitated aversive memory acquisition across rodent species.
  • This facilitation correlated with a reduced threshold for hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP).
  • Neopterin reduced IL-6 brain levels post-LPS challenge but did not affect memory consolidation, motor, or anxiety parameters.

Conclusions:

  • Neopterin demonstrates cognitive enhancer properties, specifically in memory acquisition.
  • The mechanism likely involves an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory state and facilitated LTP.
  • This study provides the first evidence of neopterin's cognitive-enhancing capabilities.