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Cholinergic circuits in cognitive flexibility.

Vania F Prado1, Helena Janickova2, Mohammed A Al-Onaizi3

  • 1Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A5K8, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A5K8, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A5K8, Canada; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A5K8, Canada.

Neuroscience
|September 20, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cognitive flexibility relies on the brain's cholinergic system. This review details how specific acetylcholine pathways, like those in the striatum, are crucial for adapting behavior to new environments.

Keywords:
cholinergiccognitive flexibilityfrontal cortexreversal learningset-shiftingstriatum

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Cognitive flexibility is vital for adapting to environmental changes.
  • The cholinergic system modulates cognitive flexibility, but its precise circuits and mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of different cholinergic circuits in cognitive flexibility.
  • To highlight complexities in studying acetylcholine's effects on behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cholinergic system and cognitive flexibility.
  • Analysis of studies investigating specific cholinergic pathways (e.g., dorsomedial striatum, nucleus basalis magnocellularis).

Main Results:

  • Cholinergic interneurons in the dorsomedial striatum are essential for establishing new strategies, primarily via muscarinic receptors.
  • Cholinergic projections from the nucleus basalis magnocellularis to the prefrontal cortex may influence the inhibition of old strategies, though this is debated.
  • Other basal forebrain cholinergic projections to the hippocampus, amygdala, and parietal cortex may also play a role.

Conclusions:

  • Specific cholinergic circuits significantly influence cognitive flexibility.
  • Methodological considerations, such as co-release of neurotransmitters and genetic particularities in transgenic models, are critical for interpreting research findings on acetylcholine and behavior.