Effects of sodium barbitone on learning and memory-storage of an appetitive and an aversive task

In order to test the effects of sodium barbitone on the acquisition and retention of an appetitively and an aversively reinforced behavior, mice were trained in a spatial discrimination Y-maze task. Learning was observed in both situations, with acquisition unimpaired by the drug. Sodium barbitone did, however, affect retention of both tasks in all groups treated with the drug before training. Results are discussed in light of the various modes of action of this drug, i.e., as an inhibitor of protein synthesis, as a blocker of catecholamine biosynthesis, with regard to its effects on paradoxical sleep and on gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA).