Endogenous Peptides and Learning and Memory Processes

Book excerpt: Endogenous Peptides and Learning and Memory Processes presents the role of pituitary and central nervous system peptidergic systems in the modulation of memory and learning. This book discusses the various experimental findings concerning the role of peptides in attention, memory, conditioning, opiate tolerance, and amnesia. Organized into five parts encompassing 26 chapters, this book starts with an overview of the possible chemical relationship between melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This text then discusses the complex behavioral activities of ACTH involving processes that serve the adaptive abilities of the organism, such as memory, learning, motivation, attention, and arousal. Other chapters consider the possibility that post-training injection of some hormones may aid retention performance following training in a one-trial inhibitory avoidance task. The final chapter deals with the various types of behavioral tests for studying the central nervous system effects of peptides. This book is a valuable resource for specialists, teachers, clinicians, and researchers in the fields of neuropharmacology, behavioral pharmacology, experimental psychology, and psychopharmacology.