The locus coeruleus is a pontine nucleus that produces much of the brain's norepinephrine.Despite its small size,the locus coeruleus is critical for a myriad of functions and is involved in many neurodegenerative ...The locus coeruleus is a pontine nucleus that produces much of the brain's norepinephrine.Despite its small size,the locus coeruleus is critical for a myriad of functions and is involved in many neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.In this review,we discuss the physiology and anatomy of the locus coeruleus system and focus on norepinephrine's role in synaptic plasticity.We highlight Parkinson's disease as a disorder with motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms that may be understood as aberrations in the normal functions of locus coeruleus.展开更多
基金supported by the National Institutes of Health grant F30MH110084(to BAB)
文摘The locus coeruleus is a pontine nucleus that produces much of the brain's norepinephrine.Despite its small size,the locus coeruleus is critical for a myriad of functions and is involved in many neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.In this review,we discuss the physiology and anatomy of the locus coeruleus system and focus on norepinephrine's role in synaptic plasticity.We highlight Parkinson's disease as a disorder with motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms that may be understood as aberrations in the normal functions of locus coeruleus.