A reappraisal of the fundions of the nudeus basalis of Meynert

The nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) has recently been identified as the primary source of acetylcholine (ACh) in the cerebral cortex. Damage to the NBM in Alzheimer's disease appears to account for the consistent loss of cholinergic markers in cortex associated with this disease t'z. These findings have drawn attention to the possible functions of the NBM and the other compo- nents of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Cholinergic neurotransmission has long been thought to be involved in memory and arousal, and current research has provided new insights into the epedfic role of the NBM in these processes. Recent findings have also led to new concepts of how the NBM may interact with other neural structures. This review discusses