认知风格、内外向和情绪对军人认知反应能力的影响

该文主要通过测评研究认知风格、内外向和情绪对军人认知反应能力的影响。结果表明,场独立性者对图形的认知反应能力比场依赖性者强,情绪稳定性高者的认知反应能力好于情绪稳定性低者,外向性格者的认知反应能力总体上要高于内向性格者。     

认知功能障碍发病机制研究进展

随着年龄增大,人脑的功能势必会逐渐退化,以阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer disease,AD)为代表的人脑退行性疾病的发病率逐年升高,给患者、家庭和社会带来了沉重的负担,也引起了广大医务工作者的密切关注。本文介绍了目前在认知功能障碍发病机制研究领域方面的若干最新进展。     

Behavioral syndrome over the boundaries of life--carryovers from larvae to adult damselfly

Activity is an important behavioral trait that mediates a trade-offbetween obtaining food for growth and avoiding predation. Activeindividuals usually experience a higher encounter rate withfood items and suffer higher predation pressure than less activeindividuals. I investigated how activity of the damselfly Lestescongener is affected by larval state and predator presence andif larval behavioral type (BT) can be used to predict larvalboldness, foraging success, and adult BT. Activity level ofindividual larvae was studied without predator at 2 differentphysiological states (hungry and fed) and in 2 predator treatments:familiar predator cues and unfamiliar predator cues. Larvaedid not adjust their activity depending on state or when subjectedto unfamiliar predator cues, but a general reduction in activitywas seen in the familiar predator treatment. Hence, active individualsremained active compared with their conspecifics, independentof state or predator treatment. Active individuals were alsobolder and more efficient foragers than their less active conspecifics.Furthermore, both adult activity and boldness were correlatedwith larval BT. The results illustrate that BT of a larvae iscarried over many different situations keeping active larvaeactive even in maladaptive situations, demonstrating how a behavioralsyndrome may constrain behavioral plasticity. Furthermore, resultsshowed that behavioral syndromes can carry over from larvaethrough metamorphosis and dictate the BT of the adult.     

The Human Behavioral Ecology of Contemporary World Issues

Human behavioral ecology (HBE) began as an attempt to explain human economic, reproductive, and social behavior using neodarwinian theory in concert with theory from ecology and economics, and ethnographic methods. HBE has addressed subsistence decision-making, cooperation, life history trade-offs, parental investment, mate choice, and marriage strategies among hunter-gatherers, herders, peasants, and wage earners in rural and urban settings throughout the world. Despite our rich insights into human behavior, HBE has very rarely been used as a tool to help the people with whom we work. This article introduces a special issue of Human Nature which explores the application of HBE to significant world issues through the design and critique of public policy and international development projects. The articles by Tucker, Shenk, Leonetti et al., and Neil were presented at the 104th annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in Washington, D.C., in December 2005, in the first organized session of the nascent Evolutionary Anthropology Section (EAS). We conclude this introduction by summarizing some theoretical challenges to applying HBE, and ways in which evolutionary anthropologists can contribute to solving tough world issues.

颈动脉支架置入术改善认知功能

目的:观察颈动脉狭窄患者支架置入术时其认知功能的影响及简易精神评估量表(MMSE)与蒙特利尔认知评估北京版(MoCA)有无相关性。方法:收集124例颈动脉支架置入患者,在支架置入前及置入后1、3、6月分别应用简易精神评估量表(MMSE)、蒙特利尔认知评估北京版(MoCA)、P300检测患者认知功能的变化,同时对患者卒中有无复发进行登记,所有患者意识清楚,能配合完成上述检查。结果:所有患者安全、成功的置入颈动脉支架,无相关并发症出现;支架置入前颈动脉的狭窄率为(84±8.6)%,支架置入以后颈动脉狭窄率为(4.8±3.8)%,狭窄率较术前明显狭窄:支架置入前患者的MMSE、MoCA及P300潜伏期分别为21±3.1、14±3.6 ms,在治疗后随访的1、3及6个月,MMSE、MoCA明显提高而P300明显缩短;MMSE与MocA呈正相关;在随访期内患者无有症状的卒中复发。结论:颈动脉狭窄是导致认知功能障碍的原因之一,颈动脉支架置入可以改善患者认知功能障碍。     

Automated,Quantitative Cognitive/Behavioral Screening of Mice: For Genetics,Pharmacology, Animal Cognition and Undergraduate Instruction

We describe a high-throughput, high-volume, fully automated, live-in 24/7 behavioral testing system for assessing the effects of genetic and pharmacological manipulations on basic mechanisms of cognition and learning in mice. A standard polypropylene mouse housing tub is connected through an acrylic tube to a standard commercial mouse test box. The test box has 3 hoppers, 2 of which are connected to pellet feeders. All are internally illuminable with an LED and monitored for head entries by infrared (IR) beams. Mice live in the environment, which eliminates handling during screening. They obtain their food during two or more daily feeding periods by performing in operant (instrumental) and Pavlovian (classical) protocols, for which we have written protocol-control software and quasi-real-time data analysis and graphing software. The data analysis and graphing routines are written in a MATLAB-based language created to simplify greatly the analysis of large time-stamped behavioral and physiological event records and to preserve a full data trail from raw data through all intermediate analyses to the published graphs and statistics within a single data structure. The data-analysis code harvests the data several times a day and subjects it to statistical and graphical analyses, which are automatically stored in the "cloud" and on in-lab computers. Thus, the progress of individual mice is visualized and quantified daily. The data-analysis code talks to the protocol-control code, permitting the automated advance from protocol to protocol of individual subjects. The behavioral protocols implemented are matching, autoshaping, timed hopper-switching, risk assessment in timed hopper-switching, impulsivity measurement, and the circadian anticipation of food availability. Open-source protocol-control and data-analysis code makes the addition of new protocols simple. Eight test environments fit in a 48 in x 24 in x 78 in cabinet; two such cabinets (16 environments) may be controlled by one computer.     

姜黄素预防高原缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍的电生理机制

目的：探讨姜黄素（curcumin）预防高原缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍的电生理机制。方法：将30只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为健康对照组、模型组（Model组）、姜黄索[按体重60rag／（kg·d）】治疗纽（curcumin组）。造模后,检测脑片水平的海马的LTP变化,并运用膜片钳技术检测海马CA1区神经元的电生理变化。结果（1）给予HFS刺激后各组均可诱发LTP并持续1h以上,与对照组比较模型组组HFS刺激后LTP明显被抑制（P〈0．05）,姜黄素可减轻缺氧所致的LTP抑制（P〈0．05）;（2）高原缺氧使海马CA1神经元阈电位升高,动作电位（AP）数量减少,兴奋性降低,姜黄素干预可明显减轻高原缺氧对细胞神经元的抑制。结论：姜黄素可显著改善高原缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍,其可能机制是通过维持海马CA1细胞的兴奋性减轻高原缺氧对认知功能的损伤。     

姜黄素预防高原缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍的电生理机制

目的:探讨姜黄素(curcumin)预防高原缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍的电生理机制。方法:将30只成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为健康对照组、模型组(Model组)、姜黄素[按体重60mg/(kg.d)]治疗组(curcumin组)。造模后,检测脑片水平的海马的LTP变化,并运用膜片钳技术检测海马CA1区神经元的电生理变化。结果:(1)给予HFS刺激后各组均可诱发LTP并持续1h以上,与对照组比较模型组组HFS刺激后LTP明显被抑制(P<0.05),姜黄素可减轻缺氧所致的LTP抑制(P<0.05);(2)高原缺氧使海马CA1神经元阈电位升高,动作电位(AP)数量减少,兴奋性降低,姜黄素干预可明显减轻高原缺氧对细胞神经元的抑制。结论:姜黄素可显著改善高原缺氧大鼠认知功能障碍,其可能机制是通过维持海马CA1细胞的兴奋性减轻高原缺氧对认知功能的损伤。     

朱鹮野化种群对冬季低温的行为响应

低温对鸟类的生长发育、新陈代谢和生活状态有显著的影响,鸟类往往通过改变行为模式来适应温度的变化。朱鹮(Nipponia nippon)是东亚特有的濒危鸟类,2018年从秦岭南麓的陕西洋县引入到河北北戴河,建立了全球纬度最高的野化种群。本文以北戴河和洋县两个野化种群为研究对象,采用瞬时扫描法观察分析了季节和温度等因素对朱鹮休息行为的影响。结果表明,双腿站立露喙是朱鹮在游荡期最常见的休息行为(70.9%),但在越冬期显著降低(55.6%),而单腿站立和隐喙行为比例相应升高。温度对双腿站立隐喙、单腿站立露喙和单腿站立隐喙3种行为的比例有显著影响。可见,朱鹮在冬季通过增加保护裸露部位的行为比例来适应低温。在冬季,随着温度的下降,朱鹮趴卧在树干上的夜宿行为比例逐渐增加,而这一行为在白天没有记录到。温度对成鸟和幼鸟冬季的休息行为有显著影响。由此表明,趴卧行为很可能是朱鹮对极端耐受低温的一种应对,在保护监测过程中需警惕。朱鹮在北戴河越冬过程中没有使用网笼中的遮挡伞棚和庇护场所,表明其能够自主适应-20℃的低温。为了确保野化朱鹮顺利越冬,建议在野化网笼中增加一些松科等常绿树种,为朱鹮提供更加优良的夜宿环境,并用稻草搭建风挡,减少夜间大风的负面影响。     

韭菜迟眼蕈蚊雌成虫对其不同虫态气味的行为反应

【目的】明确韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysiaodoriphaga Yang et Zhang雌成虫对不同虫态的行为趋性及起作用的活性物质,为开发高效引诱剂诱杀成虫的绿色防控技术提供基础。【方法】采用Y型嗅觉仪测定未交配或已交配韭菜迟眼蕈蚊雌成虫对2龄幼虫、4龄幼虫、蛹和卵块挥发物的趋性,应用固相微萃取和气-质联用仪对有引诱活性虫态挥发物进行定性和定量分析,然后进一步采用Y型嗅觉仪测定不同化学成分及比例对雌虫的引诱活性。【结果】结果表明,未交配或者已交配韭菜迟眼蕈蚊雌成虫明显嗜好4龄幼虫,而对2龄幼虫、蛹和卵块无明显趋性。韭菜迟眼蕈蚊4龄幼虫体表挥发物主要成分是二丙基二硫醚和2,2-二甲基-1,3-噻烷等二硫化物,前者含量是后者的10倍。50 mg二丙基二硫醚单体对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊交配雌成虫具有明显吸引作用,50 mg和5 mg 2,2-二甲基-1,3-噻烷单体对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊交配雌成虫具有一定吸引作用;二丙基二硫醚与2,2-二甲基-1,3-噻烷以1︰1(50 mg︰50 mg)和10︰1(50 mg︰5 mg)混合物对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊交配雌成虫具有明显吸引作用;而将二丙基二硫醚和2,2-二甲基-1,3-噻烷以10︰1(50 mg︰5 mg)混合后与50 mg二丙基二硫醚单体比较,前者对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊交配雌成虫的吸引作用更明显。【结论】韭菜迟眼蕈蚊雌成虫明显嗜好4龄幼虫,其体表挥发物二丙基二硫醚等二硫化物对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊雌成虫具有吸引作用,2,2-二甲基-1,3-噻烷对二丙基二硫醚单体吸引韭菜迟眼蕈蚊交配雌成虫具有增效作用。     

Cognitive and psychomotor responses to high-altitude exposure in sea level and high-altitude residents of Ecuador

Background

High-altitude inhabitants have cardiovascular and respiratory adaptations that are advantageous for high-altitude living, but they may have impaired cognitive function. This study evaluated the influence of altitude of residence on cognitive and psychomotor function upon acute exposure to very high altitude.

Findings

Ecuadorians (31 residing at 0–1,500 m [LOW], 78 from 1,501–3,000 m [MOD], and 23 living >3,000 m [HIGH]) were tested upon their arrival to a hut at 4,860 m on Mount Chimborazo. Cognitive/psychomotor measurements included a go-no-go test (responding to a non-visual stimulus), a verbal fluency test (verbalizing a series of words specific to a particular category), and a hand movement test (rapidly repeating a series of hand positions). Mean differences between the three altitude groups on these cognitive/psychomotor tests were evaluated with one-way ANOVA. There were no significant differences (p = 0.168) between LOW, MOD, and HIGH for the verbal fluency test. However, the go-no-go test was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the HIGH group (8.8 ± 1.40 correct responses) than the LOW (9.8 ± 0.61) or MOD (9.8 ± 0.55) groups, and both MOD (97.9 ± 31.2) and HIGH (83.5 ± 26.7) groups completed fewer correct hand movements than the LOW (136.6 ± 37.9) subjects (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Based on this field study, high-altitude residents appear to have some impaired cognitive function suggesting the possibility of maladaptation to long-term exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.     

外源茉莉酸诱导菜豆对西花蓟马和南方小花蝽的行为反应

【目的】为明确茉莉酸诱导的菜豆对西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis和南方小花蝽Orius similis的行为反应。【方法】采用四臂嗅觉仪测定了西花蓟马和南方小花蝽对不同浓度茉莉酸诱导菜豆后的行为反应,并用气相色谱-质谱联用仪测定了不同浓度茉莉酸处理后菜豆挥发物的成分。【结果】不同浓度茉莉酸处理的菜豆植株对西花蓟马和南方小花蝽分别有不同程度的驱避和吸引作用,以1 mmol/L的茉莉酸处理植株对西花蓟马的驱避作用最强,0.1 mmol/L的茉莉酸处理植株对南方小花蝽的吸引作用最强。不同处理菜豆的挥发物在含量和成分上存在显著差异,(Z)-3-己烯丙酸酯、2-异丙基-甲氧基毗嗦只有在茉莉酸处理植株中检测到。结合不同浓度茉莉酸处理植株对西花蓟马和南方小花蝽的行为反应及菜豆挥发物含量的变化趋势,推测(E)-2-己烯醛对西花蓟马有驱避作用,(E)-2-乙酸叶醇酯对南方小花蝽具有引诱作用。【结论】茉莉酸处理菜豆后,植物挥发物种类和含量发生了变化,在增强菜豆植株抗虫性的同时,还可增强捕食性天敌南方小花蝽的搜索和捕食能力。     

麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜对小麦植株挥发物及蚜害诱导挥发物的行为反应

用四臂嗅觉计测定了麦长管蚜Macrosiphum avenae和禾谷缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi对小麦植株挥发物及麦蚜取食诱导挥发物的行为反应,揭示了2种麦蚜的嗅觉及小麦植株的诱导防御反应特点.在所选的13种小麦植株挥发物及蚜害诱导挥发物组分中,6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-酮、6-甲基-5-庚烯-2-醇和水杨酸甲酯对这2种蚜虫表现出强的驱拒作用;反-2-己烯醛对麦长管蚜的有翅和无翅蚜的吸引作用最强;反-2-己烯醇对禾谷缢管蚜的无翅蚜吸引作用最强,反-3-己酰醋酸酯对禾谷缢管蚜有翅蚜的吸引作用最强.说明麦蚜取食能诱导小麦植株的防御反应,麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜及其不同蚜型间嗅觉反应的特点不同.     

白纹伊蚊对光线与二氧化碳的行为反应

白纹伊蚊Aedesalbopictus是重要的媒介昆虫 ,骚扰叮咬、传播病菌 ,严重危害人体健康。该文利用市场上流行的不同型号的 2种驱蚊灯和 4种诱蚊灯分别处理白纹伊蚊种群 ,观测其行为反应 ,结果表明白纹伊蚊在活动、取食和存活等方面均产生保护性行为反应。未照射 (CK)蚊子生长正常、活动性强、取食活跃、存活率高。除虫灯光线照射后 ,初期 ( 1d内 )蚊子活泼、活动量较大、存活率较高 ;前期 ( 1～ 3d间 )活动加剧、取食减少而存活率降低 ;一定时期 ( 3d)后活动性逐渐降低、取食越来越少、存活率明显下降。除虫效果检测表明 ,诱蚊灯的诱杀效果比驱蚊灯的驱逐作用对减少蚊虫的数量更明显 ;同时显示 ,诱蚊灯的灭蚊效果均较好 ,但诱蚊作用不十分理想。继而探索出一个对白纹伊蚊具有较好引诱效应的二氧化碳 (CO2 )浓度 4 464× 1 0 -4mol L ,并与紫外线诱蚊灯结合试验表明 ,一定浓度的CO2 能够显著提高诱蚊灯的诱杀效果 ,这可为开辟蚊虫物理防治新途径提供理论依据。     

The Importance of Behavioral Plasticity for Maximizing Foraging Efficiency in Frugivorous Lepidopteran Larvae

In this study, we present evidence that the larvae of Acrobasis vaccinii (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a species that feeds on cranberry fruit, are able to take into account at least three cues (fruit size, fruit color, and the distance between fruits) when searching for food. In laboratory experiments, the relative impact of each cue depended on which cues were presented in a given bioassay. Fruit color was the dominant cue in some contexts (e.g., larvae showed a significant perference for green fruit over red ones regardless of fruit size when fruits were equidistant from the larvae) but not in others (e.g., when given a choice between a large red fruit placed close to the larvae and a small green fruit placed farther away, a significantly higher proportion of larvae chose the former). This plasticity in foraging behavior allows larvae to maximize foraging efficiency under conditions of differing fruit and larval densities, which this species experiences in nature.     

Mechanisms of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy: The Role of the Behavioral Activation and Behavioral Inhibition Systems

J. A. Gray’s (1975) theory distinguishes between two motivational systems, which he refers to as the behavioral activation system (BAS) and the behavioral inhibition system (BIS). D. C. Fowles (1980) has shown that heart rate responses reflect activity of the BAS, and electrodermal responses reflect activity of the BIS. Both BAS and BIS are reliably activated during in-vivo exposure to fearful situations (F. H. Wilhelm & W. T. Roth, 1998). However, due to the constraints imposed by virtual reality (VR), we hypothesized that VR exposure to fearful situations would activate the BIS alone. To test this hypothesis, a VR free-standing elevator simulation was presented to participants selected for high and low fear of heights. As predicted, the high-anxious group strongly responded electrodermally (effect size d = 1.53), but showed only minimal HR elevations during exposure (d = 0.12), and little other cardiovascular or respiratory changes. The low-anxious control group showed little electrodermal and HR reactivity (d = 0.28 and 0.12). A comparison with data from a previous study demonstrated that this pattern was in stark contrast to the large electrodermal and cardiovascular response observed during situational in-vivo exposure outside the laboratory. We conclude that the BIS, but not BAS, is selectively activated during VR exposure, causing discordance between self-report and commonly used physiological measures of anxiety. Results are discussed within the framework of E. B. Foa & M. J. Kozak’s (1986) emotional processing theory of fear modification, suggesting different mechanisms underlying VR and in-vivo exposure treatments.     

The Effects of Glutamate and GABA Receptor Antagonists on Nicotine-induced Neurotransmitter Changes in Cognitive Areas*

In the present study, we tested the effects of glutamate and GABA receptor antagonists on nicotine-induced neurotransmitter changes in the hippocampal (dorsal and ventral) and cortical (medial temporal and prefrontal) brain areas of conscious freely moving rats via microdialysis. Both the antagonists and nicotine were administered intracerebrally. The antagonists tested were NMDA, AMPA–kainate, and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype antagonists (MK801, CNQX, and LY 341495, respectively) and GABA_A and GABA_B receptor subtype antagonists (bicuculline and hydroxysaclofen, respectively). We assayed nicotine-induced changes in dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolites. We found with the antagonists, both decreases and increases in nicotine-induced neurotransmitter responses. In the presence of nicotine all the antagonists (except LY 341495) caused a decrease in DA levels in the regions tested. NE levels were decreased in the cortex by all antagonists. In the hippocampus, GABA antagonists decreased NE levels, as did the metabotropic glutamate antagonist, LY 341495, while the other glutamate antagonists increased NE levels. The results of the 5-HT assay were more variable and dependent on the region and antagonist examined; increases were found slightly more often than decreases. The changes in metabolites were not often parallel with changes in their associated neurotransmitters, indicating that the antagonists also affect the metabolism of the neurotransmitters. The effect of the antagonists in the absence of nicotine was mostly to decrease the level of neurotransmitters, although increases were seen in a few cases. The results suggest that the excitatory glutamatergic- and inhibitory GABAergic-amino acid receptors are both involved in mediating nicotine-induced neurotransmitter responses, and their inhibitory or stimulatory effects are receptor subtype and brain region dependent. * To John P. Blass, an outstanding scientist, clinician and a great friend.     

Relationship between Measures of Exposure to PCBs/Dioxins and Behavioral Effects in Recent Developmental Studies

This paper does not reflect official EPA policy. Epidemiological studies on the neurodevelopmental effects of exposure to PCBs initiated in the last decade have had the opportunity to take advantage of modern methodologies for the analysis of congeners of PCBs, dioxins, and related orga-nochlorine compounds. Each of these studies is a longitudinal prospective study, in which women were recruited during pregnancy and the children are being followed for at least several years after birth. The study from which the largest body of data has been published to date is being performed in the Netherlands, in which exposure to PCBs and related compounds is through the general food supply. Mother-infant pairs were recruited in two cities. Half of the infants were bottle-fed and half breast-fed in each city. Four PCB congeners (118, 138, 153, 180) were assessed in maternal and cord plasma, breast milk, and plasma of the child at 3.5 years. TEQ in breast milk was calculated based on PCDDs/PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs. Various measures of in utero exposure were associated with suboptimal neurological status during infancy, whereas maternal plasma PCB concentration was associated with cognitive deficits (Kaufman scores) at 3.5 years of age. The child's concurrent plasma PCB levels and maternal PCB plasma levels independently predicted performance on various aspects of a vigilance task, and maternal and cord plasma levels predicted impairment of complex play behavior. Poor scores on behavioral ratings were associated with concurrent blood PCB concentrations in the child. A study in Oswego in Lake Ontario fish eaters includes mothers who never ate Great Lakes fish and mothers who consumed greater than 40 PCB-equivalent pounds of Lake Ontario fish over their lifetime. Sixty-eight PCB congeners were measured in cord blood. Suboptimal neurological status during infancy was associated with maternal fish consumption and highly chlorinated cord PCB levels, whereas deficits in short-term memory at 6 months and 1 year of age were associated with total chlorinated cord PCB levels. In a study in Germany of 171 mother-infant pairs, PCB congeners 138, 153, and 180 were measured in cord plasma and milk 2 weeks after birth; both measures are considered markers of in utero exposure. Suboptimal neurological status during infancy, decrements in Bayley scores at 30 months and Kaufman scores at 42 months were associated with PCBs in milk but not cord plasma. These studies, combined with data from previous studies, reveal a consistent relationship between PCB exposure and suboptimal neurological status during infancy, and cognitive deficits associated with in utero exposure. Data from the Dutch study revealed effects on other behavioral domains associated with concurrent (postnatal) exposure. Although it is not possible to identify specific congeners or groups of congeners that may be responsible for the neurotoxic effects observed in these studies, the TEQ approach was not particularly predictive for neurotoxic outcomes.     

M1 Muscarinic Agonist Treatment Reverses Cognitive and Cholinergic Impairments of Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

Abstract: Recent studies suggest that apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays a specific role in brain cholinergic function and that the E4 allele of apoE (apoE4), a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), may predict the extent of cholinergic dysfunction and the efficacy of cholinergic therapy in this disease. Animal model studies relevant to this hypothesis revealed that apoE-deficient (knockout) mice have working memory impairments that are associated with distinct dysfunction of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. Cholinergic replacement therapy utilizing M₁-selective muscarinic agonists has been proposed as effective treatment for AD patients. In the present study, we examined whether the memory deficits and brain cholinergic deficiency of apoE-deficient mice can be ameliorated by the M₁-selective agonist 1-methylpiperidine-4-spiro-(2'-methylthiazoline), [AF150(S)]. Treatment of apoE-deficient mice with AF150(S) for 3 weeks completely abolished their working memory impairments. Furthermore, this reversal of cognitive deficit was associated with a parallel increase of histochemically determined brain choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase levels and with the recovery of these cholinergic markers back to control levels. These findings show that apoE deficiency-related cognitive and cholinergic deficits can be ameliorated by M₁-selective muscarinic treatment. They also provide a novel model system for development and evaluation of therapeutic strategies directed specifically at the AD patients whose condition is attributed to the apoE genotype.