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Parasympathetic Signaling01:30

Parasympathetic Signaling

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Parasympathetic signaling plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes. It involves the release of acetylcholine (ACh) by parasympathetic neurons, which can have localized and short-lived effects. The majority of ACh released is rapidly inactivated at the synapse by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which hydrolyzes Ach into choline and acetate. Additionally, the tissue cholinesterase deactivates any ACh diffusing into the surrounding tissues.
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Cholinergic Neurons: Neurotransmission01:23

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Cholinergic neurotransmission involves the synthesis and the release of acetylcholine (ACh) in order to transmit nerve impulses across the synapse. The process begins with the synthesis of acetyl CoA, a precursor for ACh, from ATP, acetate, and coenzyme A in the mitochondria. Choline, another vital precursor, is transported inside the neuron through choline transporters, including high-affinity choline transporter CHT1, low-affinity choline transporter CTL1, and lower-affinity choline...
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Sympathetic Signaling01:31

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Sympathetic signaling, a vital part of the autonomic nervous system, plays a crucial role in mobilizing the body's resources in response to stress or emergencies. It involves the transmission of nerve impulses from sympathetic preganglionic fibers to postganglionic fibers. This results in the release of specific neurotransmitters and activation of adrenergic receptors.
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Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions01:30

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Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists, also known as anticholinesterases, exert their pharmacological effects by enhancing cholinergic transmission in various body parts, including the neuromuscular junction, autonomic cholinergic synapses, and the brain.
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Synaptic Signaling01:12

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Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
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Synaptic Signaling01:09

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Neurons communicate at synapses, or junctions, to excite or inhibit the activity of other neurons or target cells, such as muscles. Synapses may be chemical or electrical.
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Recording Gamma Band Oscillations in Pedunculopontine Nucleus Neurons
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Forebrain Cholinergic Signaling: Wired and Phasic, Not Tonic, and Causing Behavior.

Martin Sarter1, Cindy Lustig1

  • 1Department Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 msarter@umich.edu clustig@umich.edu.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|January 24, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cholinergic signaling, particularly acetylcholine (ACh), is rapid and specific, not slow and diffuse. This phasic signaling in the brain influences attention and cognition, challenging older models.

Keywords:
acetylcholineacetylcholinesteraseamperometrycognitionneuromodulationtransients

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurochemistry
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Traditional views consider cholinergic signaling diffuse and slow, based on extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) measurements.
  • Previous studies often inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) to measure ACh, potentially skewing understanding of its natural function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the slow, diffuse model of cholinergic signaling.
  • To present evidence for rapid, phasic cholinergic signaling in cognitive functions, particularly attention.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time amperometric recordings of cholinergic signaling.
  • Reinterpretation of existing neurochemical data.
  • Analysis of optogenetic studies linking cholinergic transients to behavior.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports rapid, phasic cholinergic signaling (milliseconds to seconds) in attentional contexts.
  • This signaling is unlikely to be volume-transmitted, suggesting spatial specificity.
  • Transient ACh release evokes muscarinic receptor activity and high-frequency oscillations in cortical regions.

Conclusions:

  • Cholinergic signaling is spatially specific and phasic, modulating cognitive operations.
  • This reconceptualization supports new therapeutic strategies for cognitive disorders.
  • Phasic cholinergic transients are linked to sustained attentional biases via postsynaptic activity.