title: Choice, as opposed to latency, measures in avoidance suggest that vasopressin and oxytocin do not affect memory in rats.
abstract: Latency measures from passive avoidance studies are frequently used as an index of memory. Thus, vasopressin (VP) is thought to enhance memory, since it has been shown to increase re-entry latencies. Conversely, several substances, such as oxytocin (OT), are supposed to have amnestic effects since they may decrease latencies. We describe a novel avoidance design, which allows latency to be assessed, but also permits the animal to re-enter into a distinctive compartment where shock had not been experienced (choice measure). Latency scores indicated that VP may improve memory, but the choice index suggested that this was not the case.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014667:Vasopressins; D010121:Oxytocin