Modeling based on twin studies reveals that genetics plays a role in individual variability

in caffeine consumption and in the direct effects of caffeine. Both pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic polymorphisms have been linked to variation in response to caffeine. These studies may help guide future research in the role of genetics in modulating the acute and chronic effects of caffeine.”
“The function of the sigma-1 receptor (SIR) has been implicated in modulating the activity of various ion channels. In the CNS SIR is enriched in Selleckchem AZD5153 cholinergic postsynaptic densities in spinal cord motoneurons (MNs). Mutations in SIR have been found in familial cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this study we show that a knockout of SIR in the SOD1*G93A mouse model of ALS significantly click here reduces longevity (end stage). Electrophysiological experiments demonstrate

that MN of mice lacking SIR exhibit increased excitability. Taken together the data suggest the SIR acts as a brake on excitability, an effect that might enhance longevity in an ALS mouse model. Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of IBRO.”
“One of the intriguing questions in neurobiology is how long-term memory (LTM) traces are established and maintained in the brain. Memory can be divided into at least two temporally and mechanistically distinct forms. Short-term memory (STM) lasts no longer than several hours, while LTM persists for days or longer. A crucial step in the generation of LTM is consolidation, a process in which STM is converted to LTM. Hippocampus-dependent LTM depends on activation of Ca2+, Erk/MAP kinase (MAPK), and cAMP signaling pathways, as well as de novo gene expression and translation. One of the transcriptional pathways strongly implicated in LTM is the CREB/CRE (calcium, cAMP response element) transcriptional pathway. Interestingly, this transcriptional pathway may also contribute to other forms of neuroplasticity including adaptive responses to drugs.

Evidence discussed in this review indicates that activation of the Erk1/2 MAP Kinase (MAPK)/CRE transcriptional pathway during GW786034 research buy the formation of hippocampus-dependent memory depends on calmodulin (CaM)-stimulated adenylyl cyclases.”
“Utilising a cognitively demanding strategy-based priming paradigm, we recently observed that acute transdermal nicotine selectively influenced controlled semantic processing but not related-word links within semantic memory per se as reported by Holmes et al. (Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 11:389-399, 2008).

The current study employed a less cognitively demanding priming paradigm to investigate whether nicotine influences the activation/access of links within semantic memory, and if the selective nicotinic influence on controlled but not automatic semantic processing could also be observed with these more general priming procedures.