Oxytocin and vasopressin: Their participation in the neurobiology of learning and memory

BARATTI CM; BOCCIA MB; BLAKE MG

Function of Neuropeptides at Central Nervous System

INDIA

Lugar: KERALA; Año: 2009; p. 31 - 52

More than 40 years ago the surprising discovery was made that the neurohypophysial hormonesvasopressin and oxytocin are involved in cognitive processes. Vasopressin is considered to affect longterm memory processes, improving both memory consolidation and memory retrieval. Oxytocin has intrinsic properties of an opposite nature to those of vasopressin, that is, oxytocin may be an amnesic neuropeptide, also affecting consolidation and retrieval of memory. Both neuropeptides modulate memories resulting fromaversively motivated behavior, rewarded behavior and social recognition.Vasopressin and oxytocin exert regional effects on the activity of several brain neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators (noradrenaline, dopamine,serotonin, acetylcholine, glutamate and glucocorticoids), which may be implicated in the behavioral effects of both neuropeptides, and also involved in some human psychiatric conditions.