Cholinergic Pathway
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Cholinergic pathways:
Forebrain cholinergic nuclei (FCN):
Nucleus basalis of Meynert, medial septal nucleus, and diagonal band
- Forebrain nuclei projections
- FCN → Hippocampus
- FCN → Cerebral cortex
- FCN → Limbic cortex and sensory cortex
Brainstem cholinergic nuclei (BCN):
Pedunculopontine nucleus, laterodorsal tegmentum, medial habenula, and
- Brainstem nuclei projections
- BCN → Ventral tegmental area
- BCN → Thalamus
Regulated cognitive processes and behaviors
- arousal (wakefulness)
- emotion and mood
- learning
- motor function
- motivation (motivational salience)
- short-term memory
- reward (minor role)