Abstract
Magnocellular basal nucleus (MBN) neurons, a majority of which are cholinergic, directly influence cortical neurophysiology. These neurons appear to be part of a diffuse cortically projecting system that includes brain stem monoaminergic neurons as well as the MBN column. The entire system appears to modify cortical excitability in relation to an animal’s behavioral state (see Saper, 1987). By regulating activity within the entire cortical mantle, this system can influence a broad range of cognitive phenomena (sensory processing, attention, motivation, memory). The restrictive terminal distribution of individual MBN neurons (Bigl et al., 1982: Price and Stern, 1983; Nyakas et al., 1987) however, as compared to monoaminergic projections, may allow for a more discrete modulation of cortical activity.
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Chrobak, J.J., Napier, T.C., Hanin, I., Walsh, T.J. (1991). The Pharmacology of Basal Forebrain Involvement in Cognition. In: Napier, T.C., Kalivas, P.W., Hanin, I. (eds) The Basal Forebrain. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 295. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0145-6_22
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