Ketamine blocks the formation of a gustatory memory trace in rats

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors appear to play a central role in learning and memory processes, as the administration of antagonistic substances of these receptors hinders learning acquisition by using different behavioral paradigms (e.g., Riedel G, Platt B, Micheau J. Glutamate receptor function in learning and memory. Behavioural Brain Research, 2003;140 (1-2):1-47.). In the specific case of conditioned taste aversion, the administration of ketamine seems to affect the acquisition of conditioning when the drugs are administered before the experimental treatment. In this paper we present three experiments designed to analyze the effect of different ketamine doses (25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 75 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg), administered between exposure to a taste (the conditioned stimulus) and the administration of the unconditioned stimulus, on the acquisition of a taste aversion association. The results reveal that higher ketamine doses (75 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg) have a disruptive effect on conditioned taste aversion by impeding the formation of the gustatory trace.