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NMDA receptor blockade and spatial learning : a reinvestigation

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation is believed necessary for certain types of learning. The present experiments investigated the effects of the NMDA antagonist, MK-801, on spatial learning and memory in rats. Experiment 1 tested the effects of MK-801 on the acquisition and retention of a water maze task. MK-801 produced a performance, but not a spatial learning deficit. Experiment 2 tested the effects of MK-801 on the acquisition and retention of a radial arm maze task (RAM). MK-801 had no effect on initial acquisition and retention, but impaired subsequent reversal learning when the pattern of rewarded and unrewarded arms was reversed. Experiment 3 investigated the effects of MK-801 on RAM reversal learning in rats previously trained on the initial task in the absence of drugs. MK-801 produced a dose dependent impairment on reversal learning. These results are consistent with one interpretation that MK-801 impairs the ability to suppress interference from previously learned information.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.69672
Date January 1993
CreatorsWhite, Lynn H.
ContributorsShapiro, Matthew (advisor)
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Arts (Department of Psychology.)
RightsAll items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
Relationalephsysno: 001383352, proquestno: AAIMM91769, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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