Changes in learning and memory after single and simultaneous lesion of the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems in the rat

Background Noradrenergic (NA) and serotonergic (5-HT) pathways play an inevitable role in several crucial central nervous system functions such as learning and memory, sleep, food-consumption and mood. Slight changes in the state of equilibrium of these neurotransmitters can lead to the development of severe psychiatric states. Dysfunction of these systems may be responsible for the considerable deficits of memory and learning processes occuring in mood and anxiety disorders. Nevertheless the exact mechanism by which these monoamines influence these processes are not yet fully understood. The way of interaction of these two systems between each other and with other neurotransmitters and neuromodulators is still an interesting field of CNS-research.