One-trial instrumental conditioning in rats.
A new method for a single-trial operant conditioning task with food reward in rats is described. The non-contingent reward of the first random lever press resulted in a higher response rate in both 24 and 48-hour retention tests as compared to contingently rewarded individuals. The latency to press the lever was shorter in non-contingently rewarded subjects than in contingently rewarded rats. The response rate in the first 5-min interval of the 24-hour retention test was higher in non-contingently rewarded subjects. The neuroleptic haloperidol (500 micrograms/kg., i.p.) given immediately following the "event to be remembered" significantly depresses the response rate compared to that for saline-treated controls. The advantages of the new method are discussed with respect to its applicability for memory research in animals and especially in neurophysiology and psychopharmacology.
Schulz
H
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Department of Comparative Physiology, József Attila University, Szeged, Hungary.
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D005502:Food; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008722:Methods; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012201:Reward
D006220:Haloperidol