title: Subjects' skill and biphasic effects of met-enkephalin upon the acquisition and retention of a perceptual motor task.
abstract: The effects of met-enkephalin on the acquisition and retention over 10 days of a perceptual motor skill were investigated. Mice were randomly assigned to either one of two experimental groups (1-mg or 3-mg injections per 1-kg of body weight of met-enkephalin) or one of two control groups (dH2O injections). During the acquisition phase of the study, they were separated into "slow" and "fast" learners on the basis of their skill in negotiating a water maze. The results indicated an inhibitory effect of met-enkephalin in the 3-mg condition in the retention phase of the experiment. Subjects' skill was not implicated as a critical factor in retention of this simple task.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma State University.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Woosley
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009949:Orientation / Q000187:drug effects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine