Oxytocin and Vasopressin: Their participation in the neurobiology of learning and memory in Function of neuropeptides at central nervous system

BARATTI CM; BOCCIA MM; BLAKE MG

Function of Neuropeptides at Central Nervous System

Research Signpost

Lugar: Kerala; Año: 2009; p. 31 - 52

More than 40 years ago the surprising discovery was made that the neurohypophysial hormones vasopressin and oxytocin are involved in cognitive processes. Vasopressin is considered to affect long term 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 from aversively 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.