Animal studies cognition

Animal studies support he human evidence of neurobehavioral toxicity from prenatal exposure to low levels of lead. In an extensive review of the literature, Davis et al. (1990) discussed similarities between human effects and those in animals. The authors concluded that qualitatively "... the greatest similarities between human and animal effects involve cognitive and relatively complex behavioral processes such as learning." They further reported that quantitative relationships for PbB levels across species that cause developmental neurobehavioral effects are 10-15 pg/dL in children, <15 pg/dL in primates, and <20 pg/dL in rodents. 

Data from the few available case reports and the numerous animal studies strongly suggest that disulfoton exposure may cause mild to severe neurological effects in humans. Although disulfoton-associated memory loss has not been reported in humans, there should be concern that occupational exposure and exposure at hazardous waste sites may interfere with the performance of cognitive and complex tasks. 

Cognitive effects Animal studies There is an extensive literature that deals with the effects of ginseng on memory, learning, and behavior (Gillis 1997 Wang et al. 1995). However, ginseng extract (G115) failed to show anxiolytic effects in an animal model (Petkov et al. 1987)... 

In this chapter, we have reviewed the sites and mechanisms of drug action that may modify serotonin function relevant to cognition. A substantial number of animal studies have revealed that an agonist action at the 5-HTj, recep-... 

Based on the original large-animal studies that demonstrated ECT-induced brain damage, organized psychiatry should have banned the treatment decades ago. Even without the animal studies, Sackeim et al. s (2007) demonstration of permanent ECT-induced memory loss and other cognitive deficits consistent with dementia should have been sufficient to stop all use of the treatment. This chapter has also reviewed a mountain of additional research confirming that ECT damages both the brain and the mind. 

William A. Roberts is Professor of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario. He is author of Principles of animal cognition (McGraw-Hill, 1998). He studies cognitive processes in monkeys, rats, and pigeons, including how these animals process number, keep track of time, and use landmarks for spatial navigation. 

The role of adenosine, originally described by Greengard (1972), is being increasingly emphasized and studied from the molecular to the behavioral level. Furthermore, anecdotical clinical evidence concerning cognitive effects of alpha adenosine A2 type receptor blockers is consistent with the results of animal studies (Takahashi et al, 2010). 

Takahashi RN, Pamplona FA, Prediger RD (2008) Adenosine receptor antagonists for cognitive dysfunction a review of animal studies. Front Biosci 13 2614-2632 Tallon-Baudry C, Bertrand O, Delpuech C, Permier J (1997) Oscillatory gamma-band (30-70 Hz) activity induced by a visual search task in humans. J Neurosci 17 722-734 Taylor A, Saint-Cyr A, Lang A (1986) Frontal lobe dysfunction in Parkinson s disease the cortical focus of neostriatal outflow. Brain 109 845-883... 

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