en Behavioral Neuroscience Behavioral Neuroscience Original Original <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Introduction:</strong> Cognitive impairment is commonly associated with pain. The modulatory role of orexin 1 receptor (OX1R) in pain pathways as well as learning and memory processes is reported in several studies. The current study was designed to investigate the possible role of CA1-hippocampal OX1R on spatial learning and memory of rats following capsaicin-induced orofacial pain.<br> <strong>Methods: </strong>Orofacial pain was induced by subcutaneous intra lip injection of capsaicin (100 &mu;g). CA1 administration of orexin A and its selective antagonist (SB-334867-A) were performed 20 minutes prior to capsaicin injection. Learning and spatial memory performances were assessed by Morris Water Maze (MWM) task.<br> <strong>Results:</strong> Capsaicin treated rats showed impairment in spatial learning and memory. In addition, pretreatment with orexin A (20 and 40 nM/rat) significantly attenuated learning and memory impairment in capsaicin-treated rats. Conversely, blockage of OX1R via SB-334867-A (40 and 80 nM/rat) significantly exaggerated learning and memory loss in capsaicin-treated rats.&nbsp;<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The obtained results indicated that CA1 OX1R may be involved in modulation of capsaicin &ndash;induced spatial learning and memory impairment.</p> Orofacial pain, Orexin 1 Receptor, CA1, Learning and memory, Capsaicin 213 222 http://bcn.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-906-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Razieh Kooshki kooshki.razieh@gmail.com 13700319475328460010335 13700319475328460010335 No Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. Mehdi Abbasnejad mabbas@mail.uk.ac.ir 13700319475328460010336 13700319475328460010336 No Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. Saeed Esmaeili-Mahani semahani@yahoo.com 13700319475328460010337 13700319475328460010337 No Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. Maryam Raoof maryam.raoof@gmail.com 13700319475328460010338 13700319475328460010338 Yes Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.