Higher cognitive function

Arnsten, A.F.T. and van Dyck, C.H. (1997) Monoamine and acetylcholine influences on higher cognitive functions in nonhuman primates relevance to the treatment of Alzheimer s disease. In Brioni, J.D. and Decker, M.W., eds. Pharmacological Treatment of Alzheimer s Disease Molecular and Neurobiological Foundations. New York John Wiley Sons, pp. 63-86. 

Recent studies suggest all N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists cause brain damage to the portions of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions like memory and speech. These are the areas most affected by dissociative anesthetics and include ketamine, dextromethorphan (DXM), phencyclidine (PCP or angel dust), nitrous oxide (whippets), and dizocilpine (MK-801). 

Thus it would appear that neuroleptics have little effect on higher cognitive functioning in schizophrenic patients and that the improvement in attention is facilitated by a non-mesocortical-mesolimbic mechanism. There is also evidence that neuroleptics improve asymmetry in hippocampal function which may be deranged in the illness. It is generally agreed that studies of the effects of neuroleptics on normal subjects, which... 

A neuropsychiatric evaluation assesses sensorium, attention, concentration, memory, and higher cognitive functions such as orientation and abstraction. Prior to initiation of the neuropsychiatric evaluation, it should be documented whether the patient has received medications with sedative properties, because the outcome of the examination could be altered if central nervous system depressants have recently been taken. 

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are present in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) and in the periphery. Their stimulation produces inhibitory responses such as bradycardia and vascular smooth muscle dilatation, and excitatory responses such as ganglionic depolarization and smooth muscle contraction. Muscarinic receptors of the CNS are involved in motor control, temperature and sleep regulation, and in processes including higher cognitive functions such as memory and learning. 

Effects of Essential Oils and Fragrances on Selected Basic and Higher Cognitive Functions... 

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