Cerebellar Contributions to the Basal Ganglia Influence Motor Coordination, Reward Processing, and Movement Vigor.

Both the cerebellum and the basal ganglia are known for their roles in motor control and motivated behavior. These two systems have been classically considered as independent structures that coordinate their contributions to behavior via separate cortico-thalamic loops. However, recent evidence demonstrates the presence of a rich set of direct connections between these two regions.

Multigenerational effects of paternal spatial training are lasting in the F1 and F2 male offspring.

Recent studies on intergenerational transmission of learning and memory performances demonstrated that parental spatial training before fertilization could facilitate learning and memory in the offspring, but many questions remain unclarified. Essential issues regarding whether and how long the effects of parental training in a task can last in several generations, and whether learning a task repeated in the successive generations can enhance a load of multigenerational effects. In the present study, the spatial performances of F1 and F2 generations of male offspring of fathers or grandfathers spatially trained in the Morris Water Maze were evaluated and compared with the performance of a control sample matched for age and sex.

Individual Subnuclei of the Rat Anterior Thalamic Nuclei Differently affect Spatial Memory and Passive Avoidance Tasks.

The role of the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) has been proven in different learning and memory tasks. The ATN consist of three main subnuclei, the anterodorsal (AD), anteroventral (AV) and anteromedial (AM), which have different biological characteristics such as distinct circuitry, cell population and neurotransmitter content. The role of ATN subnuclei in learning and memory has been shown in several studies.

Temporary inactivation of interpeduncular nucleus impairs long but not short term plasticity in the perforant-path dentate gyrus synapses in rats.

The interconnectivity of the hippocampus, interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) and several brain structures which are involved in modulating hippocampal theta rhythm activity makes a complicated dynamic network of interconnected regions and highlights the role of IPN in the hippocampal dependent learning and memory. In the present study we aimed to address whether IPN is involved in the perforant path-dentate gyrus (PPDG) short term and long term synaptic plasticity in rats. To silent IPN transiently, lidocaine was injected through the implanted cannula above the IPN.

Reversible inactivation of interpeduncular nucleus impairs memory consolidation and retrieval but not learning in rats: A behavioral and molecular study.

The Interpedundular nucleus (IPN) is a small midbrain structure located deeply between the two cerebral peduncles. The strategic placement of this nucleus makes it a possible relay between structures involved in the modulation of hippocampal theta rhythm activity. In this study we aimed to investigate how reversible inactivation of IPN could affect the acquisition, consolidation and retrieval phases of memory in passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tasks.

Different effects of L-arginine on morphine tolerance in sham and ovariectomized female mice.

Objective: The roles of gonadal hormones and nitric oxide (NO) on the analgesic effects of morphine, tolerance to morphine, and their interactions have been widely investigated. In the present study, the effect of L-arginine (an NO precursor) on morphine tolerance in sham and ovariectomized (OVX) female mice was investigated.

Methods: Forty mice were divided into sham and OVX groups.