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Related Experiment Videos

Nicotinic cholinergic system involvement in eyeblink classical conditioning in rabbits

D S Woodruff-Pak1, Y T Li, A Kazmi

  • 1Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122.

Behavioral Neuroscience
|June 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Mecamylamine (MEC), a nicotinic antagonist, impaired eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC) acquisition in young rabbits. This suggests a role for nicotinic cholinergic receptors in learning.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC) is a well-established model for studying learning and memory.
  • Nicotinic cholinergic systems are implicated in various cognitive functions, including learning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of nicotinic cholinergic receptors in eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC) acquisition.
  • To determine if mecamylamine (MEC), a nicotinic antagonist, affects learning in a delay paradigm.

Main Methods:

  • Rabbits were tested on a 750-ms delay EBCC paradigm over 10 sessions.
  • Mecamylamine (0.5 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered daily to young rabbits.
  • Learning acquisition was compared between MEC-treated young rabbits, vehicle-treated young rabbits, and vehicle-treated older rabbits.

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  • Nicotinic receptors were quantified in three brain regions.

    • Main Results:

    • Daily mecamylamine injections significantly disrupted acquisition in young rabbits, requiring more trials to reach the learning criterion compared to controls.
    • MEC-treated young rabbits demonstrated learning performance comparable to that of older rabbits.
    • No significant effects of 10 daily MEC injections were observed on brain nicotinic receptor levels.

    Conclusions:

    • This study provides the first evidence, using a low dose of mecamylamine, for the involvement of nicotinic cholinergic receptors in eyeblink classical conditioning acquisition.
    • Nicotinic cholinergic systems appear critical for the efficient learning of conditioned eyeblink responses.