Serotonin in Learning and Memory

Abstract

A serotonin-related basis for learning, memory consolidation, or amnesia has been derived, not only from a correlation between brain changes is this amine and in amnesic agents or events, but also from pharmacological studies. An early study (Woolley, 1965) found that mice with an elevated brain serotonin level produced with a combination of 5-hydroxytryptophan (60 mg/kg) and benzlmethoxytryptamine (15 mg/kg) had a 13% reduction in the average number of correct maze responses performed. A decrease in brain serotonin with either reserpine (1.2 mg/kg) or oral DL-phenylalanine combined with L-tyrosine increased correct maze responses by 7 and 9% respectively.