Perception and memory

Transient organic mental syndrome characterized by global impairment of cognition, including memory and perception. 

Dornbush RL, Fink M, Freedman AM (1971) Marijuana, memory and perception. Am J Psychiatry 128 194-197... 

In the human CNS, glutamate is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter. Glycine is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human CNS. Thus, these two amino acids, basic constituents of proteins, also function in other very important ways in behavior, emotion, learning, memory, and sensory perception. Nature uses its molecular constructs for more than one purpose. Among other neurotransmitters, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are derivatives of protein amino acids and are synthesized from them. 

THC was first isolated from hashish in 1964 by Raphael Mechoulam (1930-) and Yehiel Gaoni at the Weizmann Institute. Mechoulam had obtained 5 kg hashish from Israeli police officials and the earliest scientific work on THC and cannabinoids used this source. In the early 1990s, the specific brain receptors affected by THC were identified. These receptors are activated by a cannabinoid neurotransmitter called arachidonylethanolamide, known as anandamide. Anandamide was named by Mechoulam using ananda, which is the Sanskrit word for ecstasy. Anandamide is thought to be associated with memory, pain, depression, and appetite. THC is able to attach to and activate anandamide receptors. These receptors are actually called THC receptors rather than anandamide receptors because researchers discovered that THC attaches to these receptors before anandamide was discovered. The areas of the brain with the most THC receptors are the cerebellum, the cerebral cortex, and the limbic system. This is why marijuana affects thinking, memory, sensory perception, and coordination. 

Dissociation is the separation of modules of consciousness that are usually associated with one another. A good example is the usual association of perception and movement with memory and conscious awareness. In post-hypnotic suggestion, the subject executes a command for which there is no conscious recollection. The subject clearly perceived the command (witness its execution), but cannot remember having been given the command. 

The Delta system contains many of the same tests contained in the APTS system, including those that monitor motor function, reaction time, attention and working memory, learning and memory, spatial perception and reasoning, mathematical calculation, and language (Table 6.1). More complete descriptions of the psychometric and validity studies supporting the utility of this testing system are available elsewhere.61,62... 

This receptor subtype has been associated with the control of pain perception (Harasawa et al. 2003), motor coordination (Mishima et al. 2004), working memory, and attention (Mishima et al. 2004), as well as exploratory behavior (Sadalge et al. 2003). Furthermore, aiD-deficient mice showed altered functions of the lower urinary tract (Chen et al. 2005). 

Animals certainly can t report dreams even if they do have them. But which pet owner would doubt that his or her favourite animal friend has perception, memory, and emotion These are three of the key aspects of consciousness, and they could be experienced whether or not an animal had verbal language as we do. When the animal s brain is activated during sleep, why not assume that the animal has some sort of perceptual, emotional, and memory experience ... 

Ketamine acts as a noncompetitive antagonist of NMDA receptors. It induces changes of perception, memory, and cognition throughout the brain. Drugs like ketamine are said to work globally, meaning that they directly or indirectly... 

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