A comparison of the effects of diazepam and scopolamine in two positively reinforced learning tasks

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
S E FileE Toth

Abstract

In a helical maze scopolamine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) significantly impaired the ability of rats to acquire a spatial learning task using reference memory. In contrast, diazepam (0.5-2 mg/kg) did not impair acquisition of this task and the only effect of diazepam (4 mg/kg) was likely to be secondary to sedative effects. Diazepam (0.5-4 mg/kg) did not impair 8-day retention of the helical maze. In a test of working and reference memory in which spatial processing was minimised, scopolamine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) significantly impaired acquisition and increased the number of reference memory errors. Diazepam (1 and 4 mg/kg) did not impair acquisition of this task, but when a delay was interposed in the middle of a trial the diazepam-treated rats were slower to complete the task than the controls and made more errors of both working and reference memory. In contrast, when the rats were tested with a change of context, the diazepam-treated rats completed the task more quickly than the controls and made fewer errors of both working and reference memory.

References

Jan 1, 1985·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·R G Lister
Jan 1, 1985·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·M H Thiébot
Jan 1, 1986·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·S O Cole
Jan 1, 1986·Psychopharmacology·H Hodges, S Green
Oct 1, 1986·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·P Willner, K A Birbeck
Apr 1, 1987·Behavioural Brain Research·N McNaughton, R G Morris
Feb 1, 1984·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·Y Hiraga, T Iwasaki
May 1, 1984·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·B A WirschingS R El-Defrawy
Jul 1, 1982·Behavioral and Neural Biology·H Okaichi, L E Jarrard
May 1, 1981·Physiology & Behavior·J WattsC Robinson
Aug 1, 1981·Physiology & Behavior·R Stevens

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 1, 1993·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·G R WengerD W Wright
Sep 1, 2000·Journal of Ethnopharmacology·V KumarS K Bhattacharya

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.