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Published on: August 5, 2017
Silent trace eliminates differential eyeblink learning in abstinent alcoholics
Catherine Brawn Fortier1, Arkadiy L Maksimovskiy, Jonathan R Venne
1Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA. Catherine_Fortier@hms.harvard.edu
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|September 11, 2009
Summary
Abstinent alcoholics show impaired eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC), especially when reversing learned associations with a silent trace interval. This suggests cognitive flexibility deficits contribute to continued alcohol addiction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Chronic alcoholism leads to brain volume reductions, particularly in areas vital for learning and memory.
- Eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC) is a sensitive measure of cerebellar and hippocampal function, often impaired in alcoholism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chronic alcoholism on cognitive flexibility using delay and trace eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC).
- To determine if abstinent alcoholics exhibit differential impairments in simple discrimination versus reversal learning under varying conditioning paradigms.
Main Methods:
- Abstinent individuals with a history of chronic alcoholism (n=37) were tested on delay and trace discrimination and reversal EBCC tasks.
- Performance was compared between delay and trace conditioning paradigms during both initial discrimination and reversal phases.
Main Results:
- A significant difference in performance was observed between delay and trace conditioning during the reversal phase (p < 0.05).
- No significant difference was found between delay and trace conditioning during the initial discrimination phase (p = 0.44).
Conclusions:
- Abstinent alcoholics experience greater difficulty reversing learned associations when a silent trace interval is introduced.
- Impaired cognitive flexibility in altering learned associations may be a key factor in the persistence of alcohol addiction.
