Journal
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN
Volume 105, Issue -, Pages 25-35Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2013.12.012
Keywords
Epinephrine; Glucose; Astrocytes; Brain metabolism and memory; Vagus; Memory consolidation and modulation
Categories
Funding
- NIA [R01 AG07648]
- NIDA [DA024129]
- NSF IOS [08-43175, 13-18490]
- Syracuse University Center for Aging and Policy Studies [NIA P30 AG034464]
- Alzheimer's Association
- Direct For Biological Sciences
- Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems [1318490] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Epinephrine, released into blood from the adrenal medulla in response to arousing experiences, is a potent enhancer of learning and memory processing. This review examines mechanisms by which epinephrine exerts its effects on these cognitive functions. Because epinephrine is largely blocked from moving from blood to brain, it is likely that the hormone's effects on memory are mediated by peripheral actions. A classic effect of epinephrine is to act at the liver to break down glycogen stores, resulting in increased blood glucose levels. The increase in blood glucose provides additional energy substrates to the brain to buttress the processes needed for an experience to be learned and remembered. In part, it appears that the increased glucose may act in the brain in a manner akin to that evident in the liver, engaging glycogenolysis in astrocytes to provide an energy substrate, in this case lactate, to augment neuronal functions. Together, the findings reveal a mechanism underlying modulation of memory that integrates the physiological functions of multiple organ systems to support brain processes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Memory enhancement'. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available