ABSTRACT
In recent years, interest in the neurosciences has increased due to an increasing number of people worldwide being affected by various neurological disorders. Neurotransmitters play a key role in neuronal communication and functioning. This chapter focuses on three aspects of cholinergic neurotransmission. First, the neurotransmission and neuromodulatory effects of cholinergic synaptic neurotransmission. Second, the role of cholinergic neurotransmission in various aspects of brain functioning. Third, dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and related pathophysiology, with an emphasis on Parkinson’s disease, which is triggered by an alteration in the network of interneurons at the dopaminergic–cholinergic interface in the striatal region. Also discussed is the desensitization of cholinergic receptors, with an exploration of their effects on motor and non-motor abnormalities, as well as their transmission pathways. At the start of the twenty-first century, researchers are working on developing various interventions and therapeutic strategies to subtly modify and correct the malfunctioning of the brain, which could lead us on a path to the discovery of novel drugs that may improve the symptoms of, or cure, neurological diseases.
