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Abstract

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is acknowledged as a neuromodulator of nervous systems in both invertebrates and vertebrates. It has been proposed for several decades that it impacts animal cognition and behaviors. Despite a completely distinct organization of the 5-HT systems across the animal kingdom and the distinct ecological niches and environments, several lines of evidence suggest that the influences of 5-HT on behavior and cognition are evolutionary conserved. In this chapter, some behaviors classically evoked when addressing the role of 5-HT on nervous system functions have been selected including the motor activity, arousal, sleep and circadian rhythm, feeding, social interaction and aggressiveness, anxiety, mood, learning and memory, impulsive/compulsive dimension, and behavioral flexibility. The roles of 5-HT have been illustrated in both invertebrates and vertebrates.

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Abbreviations

5-HT:

Serotonin

5-HTR:

Serotonin receptors

CNS:

Central nervous system

SERT:

Serotonin transporter

SSRI:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

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Correspondence to Daniel Cattaert .

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Cattaert, D., De Deurwaerdère, P. (2018). Serotonin. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_486-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_486-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Serotonin
    Published:
    14 February 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_486-2

  2. Original

    Serotonin
    Published:
    17 October 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_486-1