Many different neuropharmacological agents modulate arousal and anxiety, yet to date, few endogenous substances have produced arousal with an anxiolytic effect. In this issue of Neuron, Xu et al. describe the localization and characterization of a novel neuropeptide, neuropeptide S (and its cognate receptor), that is unique in its arousing and anxiolytic-like properties.

Glutamatergic neurotransmission, of special importance in the human brain, is implicated in key brain functions such as synaptic plasticity and memory. The excessive activation of N-methyl- D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors may result in excitotoxic neuronal damage; this process has been implicated in the pathomechanism of different neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mema...

The role of CNS neuromodulators in cognitive neurorehabilitation can be related to two main issues: 1) the negative impact on cognition of drug categories prescribed for different neurologic symptoms, such as spasticity, extrapyramidal symptoms, or epileptic seizures; 2) their possible role in neuroprotection and amelioration of the cognitive status of the patient, especially attention and memo...

In the present study methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Argemone mexicana whole plant (Papaveraceae) were tested orally in swiss albino mice at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg b.w. for CNS related activities. Papaveraceae family is known to have CNS depressant activity, so A. mexicana was evaluated for CNS activities. Significant central and peripheral nociceptive activity was...