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' tests when i.c.v. administered at doses varying from 6-6000 nmoles. 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.