title: Effects of low concentrations of enflurane on probability learning.
abstract: The effects of controlled subanaesthetic concentrations of enflurane on learning behaviour and on ability to change previously developed decision strategies were studied in 10 male volunteers, using a probability learning task. Subjects were instructed to predict on each of 200 consecutive trials, whether a left or a right light would appear. The appearance of lights was pre-determined by a set relative frequency unknown to the subject. The relative frequency was automatically changed at the end of the first 100 trials, from 8/10 lights in the left side to 4/10. It was found that enflurane at subanaesthetic concentration of 0.25% (end-tidal) slowed the rate of learning, and increased the number of trials required for readjusting the prediction strategy to the changed situation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004737:Enflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011337:Probability Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D013850:Thinking / Q000187:drug effects; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008738:Methyl Ethers; D004737:Enflurane