ACETYLCHOLINE AND MEMORY

Acetylcholine may set the dynamics of cortical networks to those appro priate for learning of new information, while decreased cholinergic mo dulation may set the appropriate dynamics for recall. In slice prepara tions of the olfactory cortex, acetylcholine selectively suppresses in trinsic but not afferent fiber synaptic transmission, while decreasing the adaptation of pyramidal cells. In biologically realistic models o f this region, the selective suppression of synaptic transmission prev ents recall of previously learned memories from interfering with the l earning of new memories, while the decrease in adaptation enhances the response to afferent input and the modification of synapses. This the oretical framework may serve to guide future studies linking neuromodu lators to cortical memory function.