Abstract
In the past decade, experimental studies involving healthy human volunteers have revealed that manipulations of the central serotonin (5-HT) system can produce quite specific changes in cognitive functioning, independent of overt mood changes. Reduced 5-HT turnover is consistently associated with impaired long-term memory functioning. Low 5- HT function may also impair cognitive flexibility and improve focused attention. On the other hand, stimulation of central 5-HT has repeatedly been found to impair performance in a true vigilance task. Currently, there is little evidence for mirrored cognitive changes due to opposite 5-HT manipulations in healthy volunteers. Given the mounting evidence for a role of 5-HT in human cognition, reduced 5-HT function could be directly linked to cognitive disturbances in certain conditions, such as in depression and Alzheimers Disease (AD). There is evidence that stimulating (i.e. normalizing) 5- HT activity in depression may have specific beneficial effects on cognition, independent of a general relief of depressive symptoms, but this premise needs to be confirmed by larger-scale clinical studies. Recently, a potential role of 5-HT in the cognitive symptoms in AD has been identified, but there is insufficient data to evaluate the effects of 5-HT stimulation on cognitive symptoms in AD. It is concluded that serotonin is a potential target for pharmacological cognition enhancement, particularly for restoration of impaired cognitive performance due to 5-HT dysfunction. Further differentiation of the role of 5-HT in normal and disturbed cognition and evaluation of the effects of 5-HT manipulations in various populations is required to establish the full potential of 5-HT drugs as cognition enhancers.
Keywords: Serotonin, memory, cognition, depression, Alzheimer's Disease, cognition enhancement
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Serotonin and Human Cognitive Performance
Volume: 12 Issue: 20
Author(s): J. A.J. Schmitt, M. Wingen, J. G. Ramaekers, E. A.T. Evers and W. J. Riedel
Affiliation:
Keywords: Serotonin, memory, cognition, depression, Alzheimer's Disease, cognition enhancement
Abstract: In the past decade, experimental studies involving healthy human volunteers have revealed that manipulations of the central serotonin (5-HT) system can produce quite specific changes in cognitive functioning, independent of overt mood changes. Reduced 5-HT turnover is consistently associated with impaired long-term memory functioning. Low 5- HT function may also impair cognitive flexibility and improve focused attention. On the other hand, stimulation of central 5-HT has repeatedly been found to impair performance in a true vigilance task. Currently, there is little evidence for mirrored cognitive changes due to opposite 5-HT manipulations in healthy volunteers. Given the mounting evidence for a role of 5-HT in human cognition, reduced 5-HT function could be directly linked to cognitive disturbances in certain conditions, such as in depression and Alzheimers Disease (AD). There is evidence that stimulating (i.e. normalizing) 5- HT activity in depression may have specific beneficial effects on cognition, independent of a general relief of depressive symptoms, but this premise needs to be confirmed by larger-scale clinical studies. Recently, a potential role of 5-HT in the cognitive symptoms in AD has been identified, but there is insufficient data to evaluate the effects of 5-HT stimulation on cognitive symptoms in AD. It is concluded that serotonin is a potential target for pharmacological cognition enhancement, particularly for restoration of impaired cognitive performance due to 5-HT dysfunction. Further differentiation of the role of 5-HT in normal and disturbed cognition and evaluation of the effects of 5-HT manipulations in various populations is required to establish the full potential of 5-HT drugs as cognition enhancers.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Schmitt A.J. J., Wingen M., Ramaekers G. J., Evers A.T. E. and Riedel J. W., Serotonin and Human Cognitive Performance, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2006; 12 (20) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161206777698909
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161206777698909 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
?Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: Nano-Therapeutics Targeting Tumor Microenvironment?
This thematic issue explores the forefront of cancer treatment, centering on the groundbreaking potential of nano-therapeutics meticulously designed to target the tumor microenvironment. At its core, the issue aims to unravel the latest advancements in nanotechnology, showcasing innovative materials, formulations, and delivery systems that hold promise for redefining cancer therapeutics. ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Cognitive Mechanisms in Decision-Making in Patients With Mild Alzheimer Disease
Current Alzheimer Research RAS Inhibition Attenuates Cognitive Impairment by Reducing Blood- Brain Barrier Permeability in Hypertensive Subjects
Current Hypertension Reviews Quantitative Machine Learning Analysis of Brain MRI Morphology throughout Aging
Current Aging Science Start Small and Stay Small: Minimizing Attrition in the Clinic with a Focus on CNS Therapeutics
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Differential Effects of Nicotine Exposure on the Hippocampus Across Lifespan
Current Neuropharmacology Editorial [Hot Topic: The Pineal Hormone Melatonin in Health and Disease (Guest Editors: Charanjit Kaur)]
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Parallel Computing for Brain Simulation
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Deep Brain Stimulation for Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Alzheimer's Disease: A Systemic Review of Substantial Therapeutic Targets and the Leading Multi-functional Molecules
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Ultrasound Diagnostic Method in Vascular Dementia: Current Concepts
Current Medical Imaging Molecular Mechanisms Determining Opposed Functional States of Microglia
Current Neuropharmacology Smoking and Cognition
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Iron in Parkinsons Disease
Current Medical Imaging VNTR Variant of the <i>eNOS</i> Gene and its Relationship with Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Turkish Women
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Intracellular Signaling and Approaches to the Treatment of Schizophrenia and Associated Cognitive Impairment
Current Pharmaceutical Design Novel Circular, Cyclic and Acyclic ψ(CH2O) Containing Peptide Inhibitors of SKI- 1/S1P: Synthesis, Kinetic and Biochemical Evaluations
Current Medicinal Chemistry Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase 1 (RIPK1) as a Potential Therapeutic Target: An Overview of Its Possible Role in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Transthyretin Deposition in Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Pharmacogenetic Modulation of Platelet Inhibition
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine TAU Aggregation is a Therapeutic Target for Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research