Related Experiment Videos
N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist D-APV selectively disrupts taste-potentiated odor aversion learning
J Willner1, M Gallagher, P W Graham
1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-3270.
Behavioral Neuroscience
|April 11, 1992
Summary
The NMDA receptor antagonist D-APV selectively impairs potentiated odor aversion learning in rats, suggesting a specific role for NMDA receptors in certain types of learning and memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are crucial for synaptic plasticity and learning.
- Previous research indicated that noncompetitive NMDA antagonists impair learning and memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of a competitive NMDA antagonist, D-APV, on the acquisition of potentiated odor aversion.
- To determine if NMDA receptor function is selectively involved in specific forms of associative learning.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted using rats.
- Rats were pretreated with D-APV (D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate) centrally.
- Learning was assessed through potentiated odor aversion, simple taste/odor aversion, and illness-based odor discrimination tasks.
Main Results:
- D-APV pretreatment caused deficits in potentiated odor aversion learning.
- Simple taste and odor aversion learning remained intact after D-APV administration.
- D-APV did not affect the acquisition of an illness-based odor discrimination task.
Conclusions:
- NMDA receptors play a critical role in potentiated odor aversion learning.
- NMDA receptor involvement in learning and memory is selective, not global.
- These findings support a specific role for NMDA receptors in certain associative learning processes.