The effect of diethyldithiocarbamate on passive avoidance learning by chicks (Gallus domesticus)

Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), a competitive inhibitor of dopamine-B-hydroxylase, produced a dosage-related depletion of neural NE and impairment of passive avoidance learning in young chicks. Retention was not impaired, however, as shown by normal relearning of the task a day later, when the drug was no longer active. Perhaps, neural NE depletion impairs ability to inhibit responding and, thus, impairs passive or inhibitory avoidance learning indirectly. Alternatively, NE depletion may slow down learning by interfering with consolidation, but if the task is well learned, it is remembered.