The galanin-antagonist galantide, a chimeric peptide obtained from amino acids 1-13 of galanin attached to the C-terminal fragment of bradykinin, has been found to improve social memory in 'social recognition' test when i.c.v. administered at doses varying from 6-6000nmoles. Galantide causes widespread antagonism to the action of galanin and reversibly blocks the neuronal actions of galanin in a dose-dependent manner. It inhibits the release of acetylcholine, reduces the response to galanin in the hypothalamus, and blocks the effect of galanin on glucose-induced insulin secretion.