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Cholinergic Behaviors, Emotions, and the “Self”

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Abstract

Macromolecular cholinergic pathways are involved in the regulation of addiction, emotions, and motivations, as described at this ISCM. Indeed, in view of the omnipresence in the brain of cholinergic pathways and of their connections with other transmitters’ sites and pathways, their involvement in all known human and animal behaviors could be expected and numerous current reports describe such cholinergic correlates. This minireview describes the current status and the future of the cholinergic impact on behavior and emotions, and particularly on one important human phenomenon, the “self” or the “I” (it is only speculative to impute the self to animals).

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Acknowledgments

The author’s research referred to in this article was supported by grants from NIH, NLM–NIH, GM-NIH, VA, DOD, and the State of Illinois; grants from the Potts, Fidia, CARES of Illinois, and Ballweber Foundations; and by Senior Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellowships. The author wishes also to thank Prof. Karl Tsim, the host of the 14th ISCM, and Dr. Ava Guo, one of the organizers, for their friendship and support, and above all, I wish to thank my old friend, the illustrious scientist and educator, Mona Soreq, for her help with the manuscript.

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  1. Loyola University Medical School, Maywood, IL, USA

    Alexander G. Karczmar

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  1. Alexander G. Karczmar
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Correspondence to Alexander G. Karczmar.

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Karczmar, A.G. Cholinergic Behaviors, Emotions, and the “Self”. J Mol Neurosci 53, 291–297 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-013-0143-0

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