Effects of cocaine on conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response

Two experiments were conducted to determine cocaine's (0, 1, 3, and 6 mg/kg) effects on associative, nonassociative, and motor processes in classical conditioning of the rabbit's nictitating membrane response (NMR). In Experiment 1, acquisition training consisted of tone- and light-conditioned stimuli (CSs) each paired on separate trials with a shock unconditioned stimulus (UCS). Cocaine injected prior to each session significantly impaired acquisition of conditioned responses (CRs). In Experiment 2, rabbits received cocaine injections prior to each training session involving explicitly unpaired CS-alone and UCS-alone presentations. Cocaine had no significant effects upon: base rate of NMRs; frequency of NMRs during presentations of the CSs; and frequency, amplitude, and latency of the UCRs. Consequently, cocaine's impairment of CR acquisition could not be attributed to its effects upon the nonassociative processes of base rate, sensitization, and pseudoconditioning, nor upon the sensory processing of the UCS and/or motor functioning of the UCR. Rather, cocaine's effects upon CR acquisition were mediated by the drug's effect upon associative processes. It appears likely that the drug affected the ability of the CS to enter into the associative conditioning process.